Mary's is a comprehensive school. The school is oversubscribed. Pupils come from the Leeds, Bradford and North Yorkshire areas, although most come from the Roman Catholic communities of towns to the north-west of Leeds. The school serves a socially mixed area. Although Menston is in the City of Bradford metropolitan district the school is in the Guiseley and Rawdon ward of the City of Leeds metropolitan district. School site The school site comprises in a semi rural location on the periphery of the village of Menston. The site is bordered by moorland, streams and pasture. The former High Royds Hospital (now a housing development) is opposite the school. Curriculum The pupils work with over 85 teachers supported by learning assistants, administrative, technical and maintenance staff and a school chaplain. There is a two-week timetable. As prescribed by the National Curriculum, St Mary's students follow two Key Stages up to the age of 16. St Mary's pupils start Key Stage 4 in Year Nine and generally take ten General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) tests in Year Eleven (aged 15–16). They have a choice of A-levels in the optional sixth form. The majority of pupils go on to higher education following the completion of their A-levels at the end of Year Thirteen (aged 17–18). The seven form groups in each year are named after the Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation. Extracurricular activities Performing arts There is a Key Stage 4 & Sixth Form production each Spring and a Key Stage 3 production each Summer. In July 2011, St Mary's won 12 awards at the Wharfedale Theatre Festival for its production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Academic performance In 2016, St Mary's achieved the highest Attainment 8 score among all state-funded schools in Leeds. In 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 the school achieved the highest GCSE results amongst state schools in Leeds. In 2011 the A-level results were in the top 200 nationally and St Mary's was ranked 20th in The Independent's Top 100 Comprehensive Schools (in England) at A-level. In 2009, the school received the highest A-level results in the Leeds LEA, the second highest in West Yorkshire and was ranked 19th highest among English comprehensive schools, based on A-level results. International links St Mary's has links with schools worldwide. The most notable of these is the Bambisanani Partnership, which refers to the partnership between St Mary's and Mnyakanya