A new school in East Leeds has been praised by locals after promising to provide a free uniform to every pupil.
Trinity Academy made the pledge following the closure of neighbouring factory Arcadia, which shut its doors after Sir Philip Green's retail group fell into administration in November last year.
The factory closure has led to 400 job losses in the area, putting local people with children at the school in a really difficult position
In response, the academy has now announced that every pupil will be given free items of school uniform ahead of the opening of the new term this September.
Local families will be able to use vouchers to purchase a new blazer, tie, skirt/trousers and P.E. top for their children free of charge.
This means that families will be able to use vouchers to purchase a new blazer, tie, skirt/trousers and P.E. top for their children free of charge.
The school is also providing every child with a free TAL book bag, courtesy of its building contractors Galliford Try.
Principal Kat Cafferky said: “We are determined to be a school that works with and supports its local community, particularly in what is a difficult time for our families.
"We wanted to do all we could to help, starting by providing them with assistance to buy uniform, something we know can be very difficult for families to afford.”
An example of the uniform at the new Trinity Academy / Image: Trinity Academy
Speaking on the build project, she added “It has been an absolute privilege to be part of this incredible journey, building a new school that will in turn help to build the brightest of futures for the young people of East Leeds.
"Everyone involved in the project from our builders, architects, newly recruited staff and local families have demonstrated a real passion and positivity for our new school and we can’t wait to get started in delivering an inspirational curriculum that secures fantastic outcomes for our learners.”
Trinity Academy Leeds will open in September, initially with just 240 Year 7 pupils.
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Leeds Bradford Airport set for complete ‘shutdown’ as 130 workers go on strike
Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a standstill as almost 130 workers are set to take industrial action over pay.
If you're planning on catching a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport, then you may want to double check the date.
The Unite members planning on going on strike are a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners.
The workers involved in the dispute have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, with some of the departments having fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles.
Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity.
Strikes will take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic control workers.
Strike will mean the entire airport will shut down.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations.
"Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports. Workers taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport have Unite's full support in their fight for fairer pay."
Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said: "We know people who have flights planned to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear of industrial action, however our members have no choice but to strike.
"The airport is profitable, passenger numbers are growing and our members are a major part of its success. They deserve a fair pay rise, and management must come back to the table to deliver this."
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
Clementine Hall
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Georgina Pellant -
8th July 2021 
