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Leigh Academy Dartford

Dartford, DA1 1SQ · Kent · primary school

Ofsted: Good · 2018 Mixed Primary
OfstedGood
Pupils670
FSM18.2%
KS2 expected94%
AI summary of the Ofsted report Inspected 2025-07-18 · Tap to collapse

Generated by AI from the official inspection report — not written by Ofsted or SchoolsGPT staff. Always read the full Ofsted PDF before relying on this summary.

Overview: Leigh Academy Dartford is an outstanding school that provides an exceptional quality of education, behaviour, and personal development. Pupils achieve exceptionally well due to expert support from staff who know them well. The school's mantra of 'Invisible Inclusion' ensures that pupils receive the right support to thrive.

Strengths:

  • Pupils embody the school's motto of being 'Determined, Persistent Achievers Learning to Change the World' and achieve exceptionally well.
  • The school has developed an exceptionally ambitious curriculum that reflects the needs and context of its pupils.
  • Pupils learn a wide range of sophisticated vocabulary and connect new learning with prior knowledge.
  • The school's approach to pupils' personal development fulfils its aim for pupils to be 'secondary school ready'.
  • Pupils learn to use symbols and signs to help them interact fully with their peers and learning.

Areas to improve: The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Open official report ↗

Catchment / designated area

'Nearness of home to school' is the criterion for community/VC schools; a defined catchment area is only created ad hoc where new housing development requires a new/enlarged school — the exception, not the rule.

Source: Kent admissions policy

Ofsted judgement breakdown (2018-01-23)

Overall effectiveness
Good
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding is effective?
Yes
Early years provision (where applicable)
Good

What the entrance test covers

The Kent Test has two multiple-choice papers, each roughly an hour long: 1. English & Maths — split into two 30-minute sections: English (reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary) and Maths (Key Stage 2 curriculum up to the start of Year 6). 2. Reasoning — Verbal Reasoning (vocabulary, sequences, logic, analogies) and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning (shapes, rotations, matrices, pattern recognition), combined into a single reasoning score. There is also an unmarked writing task (around 40 minutes including planning time). It isn't scored directly, but may be used by a local headteacher assessment panel for borderline cases. Note: the Kent Test is NOT the same as the Medway Test — Medway is a separate authority with its own different test (separate registration, different papers). Passing one does not qualify a child for the other area's schools (except Chatham Grammar, which accepts either).

Similar schools nearby

Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.

The Gateway Primary Academy 0.6 mi · Primary · Good Dartford, DA2 6DW St Anselm's Catholic Primary School 0.7 mi · Primary · Not judged Dartford, DA1 5EA Westgate Primary School 0.8 mi · Primary · Good Dartford, DA1 2LP The Brent Primary School 0.8 mi · Primary · Good Dartford, DA2 6BA Temple Hill Primary Academy 0.8 mi · Primary · Not judged Dartford, DA1 5ND River Mill Primary School 0.8 mi · Primary · Good Dartford, DA1 5XR

Data sourced from GIAS, Ofsted and official Kent admissions publications. Figures can change year to year — always confirm with the school before applying.

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