Classpot

Leigh Academy Wilmington

Dartford, DA2 7DRSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
May 2023
Progress 8
+0.23
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
324 1st-choice / 223 places
Ranking
#1,007
of 3,141 nationally

About Leigh Academy Wilmington

Leigh Academy Wilmington is a large, mixed secondary school and sixth form in Dartford, part of the Kent local authority. It sits within a competitive local landscape dominated by three high-performing grammar schools: Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls. While those selective schools occupy the top tier of Progress 8 scores locally, Leigh Academy Wilmington holds its own as a non-selective state school with an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a grade it achieved in its most recent inspection in 2023. The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 1,146 applications for 223 places, with 324 families listing it as their first preference. That level of demand reflects its strong reputation among Dartford families, and it is the nearest Outstanding-rated school to Dartford Grammar School for Girls, just 1.9 km away.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCommon Lane, Wilmington, Dartford, DA2 7DR
HeadteacherMichael Gore
Local AuthorityKent
Number of Pupils1,381
Free School Meals (FSM)21.2%
School Capacity1,381 / 1,400 (99% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

4 May 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 26 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Art StudiosLibrarySixth Form CentreTennis CourtsPlaying FieldsDining HallSwimming PoolICT SuiteSports HallScience LabsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

21

Sports

SwimmingFootballRugbyTennisRoundersDanceHockeyMartial ArtsAthleticsBasketball

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubEco ClubDebateFilm ClubYoung EnterpriseBook ClubOrchestraChoirDramaArt ClubModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

Source: wilmingtonacademy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Leigh Academy Wilmington

Leigh Academy Wilmington has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.