[4][5] Canon Charles J Murray,[6] Governor, negotiated with the West Riding County Council and Department of Education and Science for forward planning of the school and had by 1960 secured a site.

At that time no more than 75 boys and girls per year were expected so the plans were for a building for 360 pupils in the initial contract, with provision for extension to 450.

West Riding County Council acquired 13 acres (53,000 m2) of land from the Regional Hospital Board and work started on the site in July 1962.

[citation needed] The original buildings, to which pupils were admitted in November 1964, were officially blessed and opened by George Dwyer, Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds on 3 July 1965.

The playing fields covered 16 acres (65,000 m2) in addition to land occupied by buildings and paved areas.

The school was fully comprehensive from September 1979, with a five/six form entry, varying from 150 to 180 per year and 950 pupils on roll.

February 2005 saw a week-long visit by 8 Chinese students and two staff from ShiXi High School, Shanghai.

In 2009, St Mary's received the International School Award presented by BBC newsreader George Alagiah.

[19] The school received the ICT Mark in June 2011[20] and was awarded Youth Sport Trust Gold Partner status in March 2012.

[1][21] In March 2012, plans were announced for Catholic schools across the Leeds Diocese to investigate teaming up to form trust academies that would no longer be under local authority control.

[22] The Governing Bodies of St Mary's and four other schools considered a proposal of converting to Academy status in 2013 and forming together a Multi-Academy Trust.

The school site comprises 17 acres (69,000 m2) in a semi rural location on the periphery of the village of Menston.

The pupils work with over 85 teachers supported by learning assistants, administrative, technical and maintenance staff and a school chaplain.

As prescribed by the National Curriculum, St Mary's students follow two Key Stages up to the age of 16.

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).

In July 2011, St Mary's won 12 awards at the Wharfedale Theatre Festival for its production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

[65][66] The Bambisanani Partnership has a key focus of using sport as a catalyst to promote education, leadership, health and global understanding.

[67] The 25th anniversary of the link between St Mary's and Franziskus-Gymnasium in Germany, was marked in 2011, with 1,420 students having taken part over the years.

[68] St Mary's works with Sefwi Wiawso Senior High in Western Ghana as part of the six school Connecting Classrooms project.