Leigh Academy Molehill

About Leigh Academy Molehill

Leigh Academy Molehill is a state primary school in Maidstone, within the Kent local authority, and it has carved out a strong reputation for itself. Among the 44 primary schools in the Maidstone area, it ranks 5th, placing it comfortably in the top 10% locally. The top-performing peers in Kent include Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School, Leigh Academy Dartford, and Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School, so Molehill is in good company. The school is mixed, non-religious, and caters for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is currently oversubscribed, receiving 83 applications for 34 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with all 34 first-preference offers taken up — a clear sign of its popularity with local families. The headteacher is Laura Smith, and the school operates at near full capacity with 310 pupils against a capacity of 315.

Academically, Leigh Academy Molehill performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 81% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Kent local authority average of 63%. The school also excels at the higher standard, with 15% of pupils achieving this across all three subjects. In reading, 65% of pupils reached the higher standard, and the average reading score was 112. Maths also performed strongly, with an average score of 109 and 42% of pupils reaching the higher standard. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, awarded Outstanding grades across the board — for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a notable improvement from its previous Good rating in 2018, where early years provision was judged as Requires Improvement.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, art studios, and an ICT suite, plus a gymnasium and library. Sports on offer include cricket, football, rounders, tennis and athletics, and there is a good selection of clubs such as science club, drama, choir, chess, coding and film club. The school has a resourced provision and supports children with a range of SEND needs, including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent View responses from 39 parents were overwhelmingly positive, with 82% saying they would recommend the school. Strong majorities agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and does well. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, inclusive primary with strong academic outcomes and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, all within a popular Maidstone setting.

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