Leigh Academy Dartford, Dartford

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~464m)Possible (~663m)Unlikely (~862m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Jennifer Haywood
Pupils:670 / 654 capacity
LA:Kent
Phone:01322224453
Address:York Road, Dartford, DA1 1SQ
Trust:LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 November 2014

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Outstanding

Quality of Education

Outstanding

Behaviour & Attitudes

Outstanding

Personal Development

Outstanding

Leadership & Management

Outstanding

Early Years

Inspected 17 June 2025View full report
URN:141534
UKPRN:10047892
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Dartford
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This school excels at helping every child thrive, including those learning English as an additional language or with additional needs. Pupils receive expert teaching across all subjects with a strong focus on reading, and they develop into confident learners who work hard to meet high expectations. The school goes beyond academics to develop well-rounded young people who understand the importance of kindness, respect, and making the world a better place.

Key Strengths

  • Exceptionally ambitious curriculum that builds knowledge logically and helps pupils make connections across subjects
  • Expert support for pupils with English as an additional language and SEND through the 'Invisible Inclusion' approach
  • Outstanding focus on reading - pupils receive daily practice with expert phonics teaching and additional interventions when needed
  • Exemplary pupil behaviour with calm, orderly classrooms where pupils show kindness and respect
  • Excellent personal development programme helping pupils understand British values and make a positive difference in the world

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.

Extracurricular Activities

Multicultural picnics, money management through micro-loan initiatives, fundraising for girls' education in India, multiple clubs and trips

Leigh Academy Dartford is an outstanding primary school where pupils achieve exceptionally well and embody the school's motto of being 'Determined, Persistent Achievers Learning to Change the World'. The school has improved from its previous Good rating to Outstanding across all key areas.

At a Glance

19.0%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

92 responses
Would recommend96%
Child is happy98%
Well taught98%
Good progress95%
Feels safe99%
Well behaved99%
Bullying dealt with17%
Kept informed97%
Handles concerns65%
Wider development95%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+2ppMaths-1ppWriting-2pp

Reading has remained stable at around 100%. Maths has remained stable at around 96%. Writing has remained stable at around 96%.

Class Sizes

27.9

Avg class size

29.9

Infant (KS1)

29.9

KS2

24

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Livingstone Hospital (opp)
136m · 2 min walk
Rochester Road (opp)
183m · 3 min walk
Park Road (adj)
196m · 3 min walk
Brent Lane (S-bound)
306m · 5 min walk
Downs Avenue (opp)
313m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

102%

Over capacity

670 pupils

654 capacity

16 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Dartford

High pressure
New homes approved:1,807
Projected new pupils:452

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dartford

Admissions Demand - Kent

Low demand0.86x oversubscription

Places available

19,144

Applications

16,524

Got 1st preference

90.6%

Got preferred school

98.5%

Primary admissions across Kent (2025/26)

Inspection History(3)

17 June 2025
Quality of EducationOutstanding
Behaviour & AttitudesOutstanding
Personal DevelopmentOutstanding
Leadership & ManagementOutstanding
Early YearsOutstanding
12 September 2023
23 January 2018
Leadership & ManagementGood

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.84876%

Overall absence

12%

Persistent absence

550

Enrolments

Authorised3.79791%
Unauthorised1.05085%
Persistent (10%+)12%
Severe (50%+)0.36364%

Absence trend

4.65815%
18/19
2.45136%
20/21
5.87602%
21/22
4.88264%
22/23
5.01425%
23/24
4.84876%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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