Leigh Academy High Halstow

About Leigh Academy High Halstow

Leigh Academy High Halstow sits in the Medway local authority, where it ranks third out of 55 primary schools — comfortably inside the top 10 per cent locally. That puts it just behind The Pilgrim School and Swingate Primary School, both of which share the top spot with a ranking score of 87, and ahead of Horsted Junior School on 80. The school is one of only four primaries in Medway to hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating, a distinction it earned in its most recent graded inspection in 2023. Headteacher Gemma Stangroom leads a mixed, non-denominational state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. The school is noticeably oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 109 applications for just 30 places, and 35 of those were first-preference choices. With 212 pupils on roll against a capacity of 236, it is running close to full, and the 11.3 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals is below the national average, suggesting a relatively advantaged intake.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 results are well above the Medway average. In the 2023/24 assessments, 81 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 62 per cent. The school also excels at the higher standard: 19 per cent of pupils achieved that benchmark across all three subjects. In reading, 35 per cent reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 108; maths saw the same proportion at the higher level and the same average score. Writing and maths each saw 90 per cent of pupils meet the expected standard, while reading hit 87 per cent. Nationally, the school ranks 1,308th out of 13,686 primaries, placing it in the top 10 per cent of all schools in England. In the South East region, it sits 172nd out of 2,034. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds beyond these strong attainment figures.

The school offers a solid range of facilities and activities that support both learning and personal development. There is a Forest School, a sensory room, art studios and a gymnasium, alongside an outdoor playground and dining hall. Sports include swimming, cricket, netball and cross country, and after-school clubs cover film, coding, drama, science and eco topics. The school’s SEND provisions are listed for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder — though no further detail on the level of support is available. For families considering this school, the key takeaway is its academic strength and high local demand: with an oversubscription ratio of 3.63, securing a place is competitive, especially for first-preference applicants, 29 of whom were offered places in the most recent round. It suits families who prioritise strong SATs outcomes and want a well-regarded primary within Medway’s top tier.

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