Leigh Academy Milestone, Longfield
Leigh Academy Milestone is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Longfield, part of Leigh Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2011. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2011)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Leigh Academy Milestone in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Leigh Academy Milestone are Rowhill School (1.6 miles, Good); Helen Allison School (2.2 miles, Good); Birtley House Independent School (2.3 miles, Requires improvement); and Ifield School (4.3 miles, Outstanding).
Rowhill SchoolHelen Allison SchoolBirtley House Independent SchoolIfield School
The trust
Leigh Academy Milestone is one of 33 schools run by Leigh Academies Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
54 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Leigh Academy Milestone (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 64% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (64%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 40 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 98% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 15% to a further education college.
Who goes there
37.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Leigh Academy Milestone has an education, health and care plan (372 of 374 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Leigh Academy Milestone has a SEN unit for autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 355 places, 380 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Longfield Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Penenden (adjacent), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 31 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Leigh Academy Milestone issued 12 suspensions, 3.2 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from November 2011, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a special school where every pupil is truly known and valued. Teachers are experts who take time to explain learning in personalised ways, helping pupils develop independence and confidence. The school creates a warm, caring environment where pupils love learning and feel deeply happy and safe.
Key Strengths
- Expert teachers deliver highly personalised learning using specialist communication strategies, helping pupils understand what they need to do to succeed
- Reading is at the heart of the school's work, with well-trained staff delivering phonics programmes that help pupils become confident readers
- Staff build warm, caring relationships with pupils and model excellent behaviour, creating a happy and safe environment where pupils feel they have trusted adults
- Sixth form students benefit from well-planned work experience and bespoke qualifications in employability skills that prepare them for their next steps
- Pupils develop resilience, social skills and mature attitudes to diversity through thoughtfully designed personal development opportunities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an environment where pupils have trusted adults to manage any concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Signing club, performing arts club, school cafes, school performances, woodland outdoor learning, work experience (including hydrotherapy pool and local charity shops)
Leigh Academy Milestone is a transformative special school where pupils receive the highest quality education with staff maintaining consistently high aspirations. The school has taken effective action to maintain the outstanding standards identified at the previous inspection.
At a Glance
37.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, Physical, MLD +2
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
54 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Maths has improved from 0% to 5% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Leigh Academy Milestone
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Leigh Academy Milestone from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Leigh Academy Milestone is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
147%
Over capacity
374 pupils
255 places
119 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Longfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Longfield
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
372
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Leigh Academy Milestone has a SEN unit for autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 355 places, 380 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
374
Total Pupils
268
Boys
106
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
46
Teachers
8.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,829
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.4%
Overall absence
30.6%
Persistent absence
294
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Leigh Academy Milestone
What are GCSE results like at Leigh Academy Milestone?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Leigh Academy Milestone achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Leigh Academy Milestone's Ofsted rating?
Leigh Academy Milestone's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2011, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Leigh Academy Milestone?
No fixed boundary. When Leigh Academy Milestone is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Leigh Academy Milestone?
Leigh Academy Milestone has around 374 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Leigh Academy Milestone have specialist SEN provision?
Leigh Academy Milestone has a SEN unit for autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 355 places, 380 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Leigh Academy Milestone?
9.4% of sessions were missed at Leigh Academy Milestone in 2024/25. 30.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Leigh Academy Milestone?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Leigh Academy Milestone on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Leigh Academy Milestone?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Leigh Academy Milestone?
Leigh Academy Milestone is at Ash Road, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8JZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)