Leigh Academy Longfield

About Leigh Academy Longfield

Leigh Academy Longfield sits in the Kent local authority, a secondary school in Dartford that finds itself in a competitive local landscape. Among the 106 same-type schools in the county, it ranks 59th by Progress 8 score, placing it well behind the top-performing peers in the area. The three highest-ranked schools locally are all grammar schools: Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls, each posting strong positive Progress 8 scores. Leigh Academy Longfield, by contrast, recorded a Progress 8 score of -0.38, which is below the Kent average of -0.13. The school is non-selective, mixed, and has no religious character, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. With 980 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,150, it is not yet full, and 27.2 per cent of its students are eligible for free school meals, a figure notably higher than the national average. The headteacher is Felix Donkor, who leads a school that has held a Good rating from Ofsted since at least 2018.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed an overall Good rating, with an Outstanding mark for its sixth-form provision. The breakdown shows Good for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 39.1, and 52.6 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 91.6 per cent, though only 16.2 per cent achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. Progress 8 is below average at -0.38, meaning pupils typically leave with slightly lower grades than similar students nationally. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score is 0.01, classed as average, with an average points per entry of 28.01, equivalent to a C- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C+, and 9.5 per cent of entries were graded AAB or higher. Compared with the Kent average, the school’s outcomes are mixed, with stronger sixth-form results than at GCSE.

The school is heavily oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 491 applications for 170 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.89. Of those, 129 offers went to first-preference applicants out of 134 first preferences, suggesting strong local demand. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, science labs, art studios, and a sixth-form centre. The school offers a wide range of sports, from rowing and rugby to martial arts and cross country, plus clubs such as Model UN, DofE, coding, and orchestra. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder, with a resourced provision on site. This school will suit families looking for a large, well-equipped secondary with a strong sixth form and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those whose children may benefit from the school’s SEND support. However, the below-average Progress 8 score means it may not be the best fit for families prioritising top academic outcomes.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Leigh Academy Longfield

Helpful Guides for Parents