Leigh Academy Bearsted

About Leigh Academy Bearsted

Leigh Academy Bearsted stands out sharply against the Kent local authority average for primary schools. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 sits at 63 per cent, this school’s most recent Ofsted inspection awarded it the highest possible grade of Outstanding across every single category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. That clean sweep of top marks is rare even among the 54 Outstanding primaries in Kent’s 459 total primary schools. The school’s Progress 8 figure isn’t published in the data, but the Ofsted judgement itself, based on a graded inspection in January 2023, suggests outcomes that comfortably exceed the LA norm. For parents comparing options, the gap between this school’s inspection verdict and the county average for attainment is the headline story.

Academically, the picture is one of consistent high performance. The Ofsted report, published in March 2023, gave the school a Grade 1 (Outstanding) for quality of education, meaning inspectors judged that pupils achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum. The school serves 390 pupils aged 3 to 11, with a nursery provision attached, and 9.7 per cent of children are eligible for free school meals — below the national average, but not negligible. The early years provision was also rated Outstanding, which bodes well for children starting in Reception. While the data doesn’t include a specific Key Stage 2 results percentage for this school, the Outstanding rating for quality of education implies that its pupils’ attainment in reading, writing and maths is well above the Kent average of 63 per cent. The school’s behaviour and attitudes were also judged Outstanding, which typically correlates with strong academic engagement and a focused learning environment.

On the practical side, Leigh Academy Bearsted is clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 146 applications for 56 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.61 applicants per place. Only 43 of those applications were first preferences, but that still means nearly three-quarters of places went to families who ranked it top. The school offers a solid range of facilities including a gymnasium, library, sensory room, art studios and playing fields, plus clubs in gardening, drama and chess. Its SEND provisions are notably broad, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder — useful for families with children who need extra support. The nearest Outstanding alternative is Maidstone, St John’s Church of England Primary School, just one kilometre away, so competition for places in this corner of Kent is fierce. This school suits families who want a proven Outstanding-rated primary with strong early years provision and a clear track record of high standards, but who are prepared to navigate an oversubscribed admissions process.

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