Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #128 in Kent public Top 22% UK

Leigh Academy Bearsted

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

personMrs Jane Tipple

corporate_fareLEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onMaidstone, ME14 5GA

language Visit Website phone 1622250040

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

263

school

Expected Standard

75%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Leigh Academy Bearsted is a Free schools primary school in Maidstone, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 22% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Leigh Academy Bearsted is a free schools in Maidstone, Kent, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 390 pupils on roll, of whom 11% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 4% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #128 of 424 primaries in Kent and #4,393 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. 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 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 33.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.5 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

75%

LA 61%

Reading89% LA 74%

Writing86% LA 72%

Maths82% LA 70%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 61%

Reading-% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing-% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths-% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%England 60%

Reading-% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing-% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths-% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -0.4

Write

LA -0.2

Maths

LA -1.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

24 January 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2023-01-24

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

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

1.0%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.8%(3 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 390 pupils. During this period, there were 4 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.0%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	390	4	1.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	382	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	324	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	326	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	321	2	0.6%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	274	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	263	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	248	3	1.2%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	178	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	177	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	167	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	91	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	62	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	39	0	0.0%	0.4%

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 13 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 8 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

15.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree48%

agree40%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree43%

agree44%

disagree6%

strongly disagree7%

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

strongly agree30%

agree23%

disagree11%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

not applicable23%

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

yes15%

no85%

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

strongly agree22%

agree39%

disagree17%

strongly disagree22%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree41%

agree41%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree37%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree27%

agree48%

disagree16%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree44%

agree40%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree46%

agree44%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree40%

agree37%

disagree9%

strongly disagree6%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes86%

no14%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Westgate Primary School

Good

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Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Outstanding

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Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Deal, CT14 8DD

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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

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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