Leigh UTC Dartford
Dartford, DA1 5TF · Kent · secondary school
Check the area around this school
42nd of 99 secondary schools in Kent we can score, 103 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 — 3.0/10 against 714 of them, against 2.5/10 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 | 87 | 35% | 3.05 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 35.5 · 26 | 30% | 0.77 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.35 · 24 | 25% | 0.60 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.3 · 25 | 10% | 0.25 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Leigh UTC Dartford overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.35 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.8 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.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Reading Club, Coding, Art Club, and Cookery. Sports include Football, Boxing, Athletics, and Esports. Arts activities feature Film Club and Mindful Colouring. The school offers a trip to Tanzania and runs an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 691 pupils against a stated capacity of 960. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Leigh UTC Dartford
Overview
Leaders have created a school where staff and pupils seek to achieve their very best, with leadership rated as 'Exceptional'. The school is 'highly effective across all areas of its provision', having improved significantly since the last inspection. Pupils flourish and thrive, exceeding their own expectations of what they could achieve.
Strengths
- Sixth-form students act as 'inspirational role models', playing a leading role in school life and mentoring younger pupils.
- The curriculum is 'extremely ambitious' and designed with employer input, preparing students for 'incredibly impressive onward destinations'.
- Pupils make 'rapid progress' through the curriculum, achieving in line with national averages by Year 11 despite starting below average.
- Staff provide 'very sensitive and effective support' for pupils with specific challenges, including those with special educational needs.
- Behaviour is of a high standard, with bullying not tolerated and suspensions becoming 'increasingly rare'.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should build on successful work to raise pupils' overall attendance even further so that all pupils benefit fully from the excellent education provided.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.8 |
| 2024/25 | 44.4 |
| 2025/26 | 41.3 |
| 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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