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Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

Tonbridge, TN12 6JE · Kent · primary school

Ofsted: Good · 2023 Mixed Primary
OfstedGood
Pupils616
FSM22.2%
KS2 expected86%
AI summary of the Ofsted report Inspected 2023-12-15 · 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: Paddock Wood Primary Academy is a well-ordered and safe school where pupils are excited to learn and develop their interests and talents. The school has a clear and ambitious curriculum, and pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills.

Strengths:

  • Pupils are polite, mature, and keen to help, with mutual respect characterising conversations around the school.
  • The school has a well-structured and ambitious curriculum from early years to Year 6, with a clear focus on reading and personal development.
  • Pupils benefit from a wide range of leadership opportunities, including play leaders, language, and well-being ambassadors.
  • The school has a strong focus on safeguarding, with effective arrangements in place to protect pupils.

Areas to improve:

  • There is some occasional inconsistency in presenting subject matter and checking learning, which can make it challenging for teachers to identify where pupils have gaps in their knowledge and therefore where further support is needed.
  • Further training and support is being offered to ensure that the ambitious curriculum is implemented consistently across all subjects and classes.

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 (2023-11-08)

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
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.

Brenchley and Matfield Church of England Primary School 1.9 mi · Primary · Good Tonbridge, TN12 7NY Capel Primary School 1.9 mi · Primary · Good Tonbridge, TN12 6RP Laddingford St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 2.2 mi · Primary · Good Maidstone, ME18 6BL East Peckham Primary School 2.6 mi · Primary · Requires improvement Tonbridge, TN12 5LH St Margaret's, Collier Street Church of England Voluntary Controlled School 3.0 mi · Primary · Good Tonbridge, TN12 9RR Pembury School 3.2 mi · Primary · Good Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4EB

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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