Leigh Academy Strood
Rochester, ME2 2SX · Medway · secondary school
Check the area around this school
9th of 19 secondary schools in Medway we can score, 20 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.5/10 against 678 of them, against 2.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 84 | 35% | 2.96 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 30.8 · 17 | 30% | 0.50 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.17 · 37 | 25% | 0.93 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.7 · 38 | 10% | 0.38 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Leigh Academy Strood overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 23.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.17 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in June 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,311 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from similar backgrounds? How does the new Ofsted grading structure influence current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Leigh Academy Strood
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have created an environment of "high expectations" and "care" for pupils. It highlights significant improvements in attendance, behaviour, and teaching quality, noting that pupils are "proud to attend" and feel safe. While national examination results remain below average, the report states that progress from starting points is improving and leaders are taking "effective action" to address attainment gaps.
Strengths
- Attendance has improved significantly, with "persistent absence" reducing sharply due to "decisive action" and support for vulnerable pupils.
- Behaviour is excellent; pupils are "polite and well mannered," creating "disruption-free classrooms" where bullying is rare.
- The curriculum is "highly ambitious, broad and well-sequenced," with teachers acting as subject experts who rigorously check understanding.
- Inclusion is strong; staff have "detailed knowledge" of individual needs, ensuring disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND access the full curriculum.
- Staff morale is high, with leaders managing workload carefully to create a "happy environment" where staff feel "valued."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should "sustain the highly effective and embedded approaches to teaching so that all pupils achieve well in national examinations," including post-16 students.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed," ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.2 |
| 2024/25 | 41.2 |
| 2025/26 | 43.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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