Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #10 in Kent public Top 1% UK

Leigh Academy Dartford

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

personMiss Rebecca Roberts

corporate_fareLEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onDartford, DA1 1SQ

language Visit Website phone 1322224453

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

673

school

Expected Standard

94%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Leigh Academy Dartford is a Academy converter primary school in Dartford, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 1% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Leigh Academy Dartford is an academy converter in Dartford, Kent, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 670 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 94% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 26% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #10 of 424 primaries in Kent and #381 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. 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 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 37.8:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.9 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

94%

LA 61%

Reading100% LA 74%

Writing96% LA 72%

Maths96% LA 70%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

111

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

97%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading98% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing98% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths97% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

112

GPS SS

113

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

85%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading94% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing88% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths90% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.1

Read

LA -0.4

2.7 to 5.4

1.9

Write

LA -0.2

0.6 to 3.2

4.9

Maths

LA -1.2

3.6 to 6.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

67%

LA 67%England 65%

Reading67% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing83% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths79% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA 0.0

-3.9 to -1.3

0.4

Write

LA 0.1

-0.8 to 1.6

-0.9

Maths

LA -0.6

-2.0 to 0.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

62%

LA 65%

Reading67% LA 76%

Writing82% LA 80%

Maths72% LA 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.8

Read

LA 0.0

-3.1 to -0.5

0.8

Write

LA 0.4

-0.5 to 2.1

-0.7

Maths

LA -0.5

-1.9 to 0.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

17 June 2025

Inspection Report

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12 September 2023

Inspection Report

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23 January 2018

Inspection Report

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05 November 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-06-17

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

2018-01-23

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-10-23

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

0.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.3%(2 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 670 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.3%, 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)	670	2	0.3%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	674	10	1.5%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	661	5	0.8%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	662	1	0.2%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	663	7	1.1%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	675	3	0.4%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	673	3	0.4%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	681	3	0.4%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	671	1	0.1%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	671	0	0.0%	0.5%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	663	6	0.9%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	663	2	0.3%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	661	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	659	1	0.2%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	672	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	672	1	0.1%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	670	7	1.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	677	2	0.3%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	682	8	1.2%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	681	2	0.3%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	663	5	0.8%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	657	1	0.2%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	653	9	1.4%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	678	11	1.6%	0.4%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	673	8	1.2%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	660	6	0.9%	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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psychology_alt

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 62 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 14 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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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.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

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

6.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree66%

agree28%

disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree79%

agree17%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree38%

agree31%

not applicable31%

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 agree55%

agree38%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree72%

agree28%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree62%

agree31%

disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree66%

agree28%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree79%

agree17%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree59%

agree31%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes100%

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.

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