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'On the back of the first six months' success, we've already renewed for next year's Year 12 as an investment for them.' - Oliver Watkins, Director of Sixth Form & Assistant Head Teacher at Horsforth School
About the school
Horsforth School is a large secondary school and sixth form in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Oliver Watkins is Director of Sixth Form and Assistant Head Teacher, also teaching Psychology. He is 8 years into his time at the school and entering his 9th year, overseeing all of Year 12 and Year 13.
Record-breaking results
Results day 2026 was a milestone for Horsforth. Overall, 71% of students achieved A*–B grades, matching the school's own record from the previous year and marking the best value-added results Horsforth has ever recorded. Students made over half a grade of progress compared to their national peers. Headteacher Dr Paul Bell put the achievement in context:
'71% of our students got an A* or a B grade. That's a remarkable result, over half a grade of progress compared to their national peers.'
A careful, trial-led adoption
Before committing, Horsforth trialled the platform with the head teacher, deputy head teacher and a group of students, gathering feedback that was unanimously positive.
'We've seen a really great uptake with Up Learn. It's played an important role in academic success this year.'
'We don't do this lightly, we're a Yorkshire school with a tight budget, but at the same time, it's a unique product at Key Stage 5.' - Dr Paul Bell, Headteacher
Rather than launching cold, Horsforth gave students 2 weeks of free access to explore Up Learn before any formal work was set. After that, homework was set per subject, per week, capped at 2 hours per subject.
The cap was a deliberate choice to protect students' wider workload and wellbeing, not just a scheduling detail. Students can also use Up Learn flexibly in free periods, on iPads, school computers or their own phones in designated common areas, giving them access whenever they need it.
Up Learn is now used across six subjects at Horsforth, including Maths, Science, Economics and Psychology, the school's most popular and demanding courses. The 2025/26 Year 13 cohort only had it six months, while current Year 12s will be on the full 2-year rollout.
'In the relatively short time that we've had it since January this year, we've been really happy and satisfied that we've made the right decision.'
Closing the gap for borderline students
Oliver noticed a particular positive impact among students sitting on the C to B borderline. He said:
'It's about closing the gap for students who are on the C to B borderline, who just need a bit more guidance on the knowledge they're missing to secure those final grades.'
Maths teacher Jim Harrison saw the same pattern in his own classes.
'There were students targeting a grade B but working at grade C or D. They used the videos to embed understanding and build their confidence.'
Emma, another Psychology teacher at the school, pointed to a different use case: catching students up after absence.
'When students miss school, it gives them the chance to go over what they've missed in an interactive way. It's useful to have another way for students to learn.'
Ayla's story
One student's progress stood out to Oliver. Ayla* initially missed her entry requirements after GCSEs, resat, improved her grades and joined Horsforth the following year. Despite consistent effort, she struggled academically, and Up Learn gave her the space to repeat and practise content independently until it stuck. Oliver said:
'I fully believe that Up Learn has been a massive contributing factor for ascertaining that great qualification for her.'
Ayla went on to achieve a C in Psychology, and spoke about the impact of Up Learn.
'My psychology grade is mainly due to Up Learn because of the interactive videos and the quick quizzes which help with active recall. I honestly don't think I could've achieved a C without Up Learn.'
*Name changed for anonymity
Built on the science of learning
Oliver was clear that Up Learn's value isn't just anecdotal. He connects it directly to the teaching principles already used at Horsforth.
'We're using the same scientifically-backed approach to maximise learning for our students.'
Active recall and spaced repetition, moving knowledge from working memory into long-term memory, sit behind both the school's classroom teaching and Up Learn's course design. Other students echoed the same experience.
'The videos were like having a different person explain it to me. I would recommend it to friends as it's really helpful if you haven't quite understood how the teacher explained it.' – Caitlin, Chemistry and Maths
'I think it sets out each part of the topic really well, so you know step by step what you need to do. I think the videos really helped visually with the pictures.' – Ruby and Evie, Psychology, Physics and Maths
A selling point for the future
Up Learn has become part of how Horsforth talks to prospective students too. It now features in the school's Sixth Form open evening presentations from November of Year 11 onwards.
'We're really proud that we offer this now. If you want to join us in September, you'll have this too.'
Benefits for schools
- Trial-tested adoption: piloted with senior leadership and students before rollout, with unanimously positive feedback.
- Workload-conscious implementation: capped homework hours protect student wellbeing while still driving results.
- Multi-subject reach: available across six subjects, so most students can access it somewhere in their timetable.
- Recruitment value: a genuine selling point at open evenings for prospective Sixth Form students.
Benefits for students
- Closes attainment gaps: effective for students on the C to B borderline.
- 24/7 access: available on iPads, school computers and phones in free periods, at home or after missing school.
- Independent practice: lets students repeat and revisit content until it sticks, at their own pace.
- Confidence and consistency: consistent, high-quality guidance even outside lesson time.
Advice for other school leaders
Oliver's advice to other schools considering Up Learn is grounded in his own decision-making process. Cost is a genuine investment decision, and he recommends taking a trial and gathering feedback from staff and students before committing. The renewal for the next Year 12 cohort speaks to that confidence.
'On the back of the first six months' success, we've already renewed for next year's Year 12 as an investment for them.'
Final thoughts
At Horsforth School, Up Learn has moved from a trial to a two-year commitment, built into homework, revision, open evenings and the school's own results-day success story.
'Sixth form flies by, it's a two-year cycle and goes so quickly. It's important they get a good deal while they're here, and that includes Up Learn, giving them every opportunity we can. Today is an accumulation of all that coming together. We're so proud of our students.' - Oliver Watkins
