Leigh Academy Bexley

About Leigh Academy Bexley

Leigh Academy Bexley is a large secondary school in the London borough of Bexley with capacity for 2,050 pupils, but currently has just 888 on roll, meaning it is operating well below its potential intake. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 41.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, far above the national average. Despite this spare capacity, the school is oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 372 applications for 197 places, with 123 first-preference offers made. This suggests strong local demand, likely driven by its status as a mixed, non-selective state school with no religious character, serving an 11-19 age range. The headteacher is John Dixon, and the school has a sixth form, though it does not offer nursery provision. The demographic picture is one of a school that could grow significantly, but faces challenges linked to high levels of pupil disadvantage.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Inadequate overall, with the same rating for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The sixth form provision was judged as Requires improvement. Exam results for 2023/24 paint a stark picture: Progress 8 score is -0.95, placing the school well below average nationally and ranking it 16th out of 17 schools in Bexley. The local authority average Progress 8 is 0.03, so pupils here are making significantly less progress than their peers across the borough. Attainment 8 stands at 32.7, and only 24.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the average points per entry is 19.38, equivalent to a D grade, and the value-added score is -0.55, classed as below average. The EBacc entry rate is low at 15.4%, and just 6% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above.

The school does offer a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and playing fields, alongside clubs such as Model UN, coding, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, and gymnastics. For pupils with additional needs, the school provides support for ten categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Given its Inadequate rating and below-average outcomes, this school is likely to be a choice for families who prioritise proximity and a mixed, non-selective environment, but who are prepared to engage closely with the school’s improvement journey. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Townley Grammar School, 3.2 km away, which may be a more attractive option for families seeking higher academic performance.

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