Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #38 in Kent public Top 6% UK

Leigh Academy Molehill

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personPrincipal Laura Smith

corporate_fareLEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onMaidstone, ME15 7ND

language Visit Website phone 1622751729

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

303

school

Expected Standard

85%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.8x

summarize

Leigh Academy Molehill is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Maidstone, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 6% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Leigh Academy Molehill is an academy sponsor led in Maidstone, Kent, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 310 pupils on roll, of whom 39% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 85% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 21% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #38 of 424 primaries in Kent and #1,284 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

85%

LA 61%

Reading95% LA 74%

Writing85% LA 72%

Maths95% LA 70%

Read SS

113

Maths SS

111

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

81%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading92% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing85% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths88% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading72% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing74% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths74% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA -0.4

-1.0 to 2.8

2.5

Write

LA -0.2

0.7 to 4.3

3.2

Maths

LA -1.2

1.5 to 5.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

55%

LA 67%England 65%

Reading61% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing84% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths70% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.3

Read

LA 0.0

-3.1 to 0.5

2.6

Write

LA 0.1

0.9 to 4.3

-0.4

Maths

LA -0.6

-2.0 to 1.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

43%

LA 65%

Reading46% LA 76%

Writing66% LA 80%

Maths51% LA 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.9

Read

LA 0.0

-4.9 to -0.9

1.9

Write

LA 0.4

0 to 3.8

-0.5

Maths

LA -0.5

-2.4 to 1.4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 December 2024

Inspection Report

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13 June 2023

Inspection Report

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30 January 2018

Inspection Report

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09 December 2015

Inspection Report

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20 November 2014

Inspection Report

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01 May 2014

Inspection Report

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03 December 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-12-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2018-01-30

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-12-09

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-12-03

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 310 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	310	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	314	0	0.0%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	311	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	304	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	293	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	303	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	303	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	291	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	309	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	299	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	290	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	267	3	1.1%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	271	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	262	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	280	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	280	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	276	11	4.0%	0.6%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	276	4	1.4%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	279	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	275	2	0.7%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	270	2	0.7%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	272	2	0.7%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	267	5	1.9%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	279	11	3.9%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	285	21	7.4%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	285	18	6.3%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Other Difficulty/Disability 13 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 7 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree51%

agree33%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree46%

agree44%

disagree3%

strongly disagree8%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree33%

agree15%

disagree3%

strongly disagree13%

not applicable36%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree44%

agree46%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree31%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree46%

agree36%

disagree3%

strongly disagree13%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree36%

disagree5%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree41%

disagree3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree41%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes82%

no18%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Westgate Primary School

Good

location_on Dartford, DA1 2LP

emoji_events #1 in LA

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Outstanding

location_on Ebbsfleet, DA10 1AD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Deal, CT14 8DD

emoji_events #3 in LA

Thornden Wood Primary School

Good

location_on Herne Bay, CT6 7RS

emoji_events #4 in LA

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

Good

location_on Tonbridge, TN12 6JE

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Discovery School

Outstanding

location_on West Malling, ME19 4GJ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Kent arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Westgate Primary School

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Thornden Wood Primary School

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

The Discovery School