Senior Leadership Team
Miss S Mir
Principal
Miss S Mir
Since re-joining The Ruth Gorse Academy as Vice Principal in 2021, Miss Mir has led on the Quality of Education and student outcomes. Her unwavering focus on high standards in teaching, learning, and assessment, particularly for students facing disadvantage has played a pivotal role in the academy securing an Outstanding Ofsted judgement. Under her strategic leadership, the academy ranked in the top 3% nationally for Progress 8 in both 2023 and 2024 and The Ruth Gorse Academy was recognised as the top-performing school in Leeds in 2024.
Driven by a belief in the transformative power of education, Miss Mir is passionate about ensuring every student gains the gift of choice, the ability to shape their own future through academic success and personal growth. Her work is underpinned by the academy’s core values: Respectful Relationships, Rectitude, Resilience, and Reflection, and inspired by the motto: Dare to achieve beyond what you are today.
Miss Mir is the SLT link for Year 11.
Miss Z Burlison
Vice Principal, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss Z Burlison
Miss Burlison began her teaching career by completing her PGDipEd with the University of Birmingham. She joined The Ruth Gorse Academy as a History teacher and progressed to Academic Progress Leader and Head of Year.
Miss Burlison is hugely passionate about removing barriers for pupils and completed a Masters in Education during her third year at The Ruth Gorse Academy, analysing the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our most vulnerable pupils. Miss Burlison played a crucial role in supporting the academy in securing the NASEN Award for Secondary Provision of the Year 2023 – national recognition for the SEND provision at the academy and the work around the THINK 5 strategy and the introduction of SEND Champions. In addition to this, Miss Burlison is continuing to develop her drive for outstanding leadership through the successful completion of an NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership) with Leeds Teaching School Hub. She is also a facilitator for the first ever cohort of the NPQSENCo supporting other SENDCOs across Leeds to develop their understanding of SEND and how to support pupils with SEND.
She has overall responsibility for SEND, ensuring that all pupils have access to an outstanding education, as well as forming part of the Safeguarding Team in her role as Deputy DSL. Miss Burlison is also the designated teacher with responsibility for Looked After and Previously Looked After Children and leads Quality of Education.
Miss Burlison is the SLT link for Year 10.
Mr W Little
Vice Principal
Mr W Little
Mr Little joins The Ruth Gorse Academy with 20 years of experience in education across a range of settings, including Further Education, specialist/alternative provision and, more recently, as Principal within the GORSE Academies Trust. He has held a senior position within the Trust for the last nine years.
Having championed inclusion throughout his time in education, Mr Little will further complement the Academy motto of “Dare to achieve beyond what you are today”, supporting every student to reach their undoubted potential and maximise their life chances through a strong academic profile and the shaping of their character.
Mr Little is a strong believer in the power of Positive Discipline and in recognising students for their hard work and endeavours. He will lead on behaviour and inclusion and play a key role in safeguarding, attendance and admissions.
Mr Little will also continue his professional development this year, completing the NPQ SENCO through the Leeds Teaching Schools Hub.
Mr L Harper
Senior Assistant Principal
Mr L Harper
Mr Harper’s current responsibilities include leading on assessment and exams, overseeing BTEC as the Quality Nominee, managing the Year 9 options process, timetable, and cover, as well as being The Ruth Gorse Academy’s GDPR Lead.
Mr A Bell
Assistant Principal, Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding and Online Safety Coordinator
Mr A Bell
Mr Bell brings over 20 years of experience in education and community settings. He holds a degree in Child Development and Fine Art, along with a diploma in Youth and Community Work. His career spans both mainstream and alternative provision, including five years in New York City supporting children at risk of exploitation.
His current remit at The Ruth Gorse Academy includes strategic leadership of Safeguarding, Alternative Provision, Community Cohesion, Parental Engagement and Online Safety. Since joining the academy in 2017, Mr Bell has played a key role in driving inclusive practice and strengthening links between the school, families and the wider community.
Mr Bell is the SLT link for Year 8.
Ms R Gully
Assistant Principal
Ms R Gully
Ms Gully is the SLT link for Year 7.
Miss E O’Brien
Assistant Principal
Miss E O'Brien
Miss O’Brien is deeply committed to ensuring that all students have access to high-quality educational provision. She is equally passionate about supporting teaching colleagues in becoming outstanding practitioners. She has led the development of catch-up curricula and intervention programmes, and has designed a comprehensive Reading Strategy that has significantly enhanced reading provision across all curriculum areas. Her drive to promote high-quality teaching and learning as key tools for improving student outcomes continues in her current role as Assistant Principal.
She is currently pursuing the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) through the Leeds Teaching School Hub, further demonstrating her commitment to excellence in educational leadership.
Mr P Pawson
Assistant Principal
Mr P Pawson
Mr Pawson has been part of GORSE since 2008, and now plays a key role in leading attendance strategy at The Ruth Gorse Academy. He is deeply committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to access education each day, removing barriers to attendance through a supportive, student-centred approach. His work combines strong systems with personalised interventions, focused on building positive relationships with families and fostering a culture where attendance is recognised, rewarded, and valued. Passionate about both academic progress and personal development, Mr Pawson works closely with pastoral teams to create an environment where students feel safe, motivated, and excited to come to school. His work reflects the GORSE commitment to excellence, equity, and the holistic development of every child.
Mr Pawson is the SLT link for Year 8.
Mr J Bates
Assistant Principal
Mr J Bates
Mr Bates has been a passionate teacher since 2013, after completing a Degree in Geography and PGCE at the University of Sheffield. Mr Bates started his teaching career at The Morley Academy and became the Curriculum Leader of Geography in 2016. Mr Bates has lots of experience in Curriculum Mapping and Assessment, having been an examiner for AQA GCSE Geography. Mr Bates has a real passion for developing engaging lessons that instil a sense of awe and wonder in students and he has been the author of Key Stage 3 Pod videos for Access Education, the educational company behind GCSE Pod. Mr Bates started working at The Ruth Gorse Academy in September 2020 and is also the Trust Subject Lead for Geography in The Gorse Academies Trust.
Mr Bates’ current responsibilities include leading on Teacher Development as a Professional Mentor for School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) colleagues and Induction Tutor for Early Career Teachers. Mr Bates also leads on Student Leadership and is the Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC).
