City of Leeds School, to the north of the city centre, was at one point earmarked for closure because of falling numbers but has now recovered and is seeing increasing numbers of families choosing it for their children.

For the last 18 months the school has been part of a new arrangement which sees an executive headteacher and a single governing body in charge of a partnership between City of Leeds and Primrose High School.

The partnership, known as a federation, sees the two schools share staff and facilities with children travelling between the two sites for some lessons.

Today's league tables reveal the school's results in national tests for 14-year-olds have soared by 75 points in the last four years, a record beaten only by nine other schools nationwide.

The school was one of only five in the region to be praised by the Government for their results.

City of Leeds headteacher Chris Coley said: "City of Leeds had been a school where the future didn't look bright but since then our numbers have grown considerably.

"The federation has certainly played a part but whatever structure you have it is the work put in by the staff that is the most important thing in the end."

The federation of schools is likely to become a growing feature of education in Yorkshire with the move towards trust schools. Schools Minister Jim Knight paid tribute to City of Leeds along with Wakefield City High, Royds Hall High, Boroughbridge High and Featherstone Technology College for improved results.

Mr Knight said: "Key stage three lays a vital foundation to future achievement – and these Yorkshire schools set the benchmark for others."

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