Leigh Primary School

About Leigh Primary School

Leigh Primary School in Sevenoaks is a small state primary with 134 pupils on roll against a capacity of 171, meaning it has room to grow but is already in high demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 54 applications for just 14 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.86 to one, and all 10 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.2%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23%, suggesting the school serves a mixed catchment with a significant minority of families facing financial pressure. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age 4 to 11. Its headteacher, Jenna Halfhide, leads a team that has clearly caught the attention of local families, given the strong competition for places.

Academically, Leigh Primary has made a clear upward turn. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024, the school was rated Good overall, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2021. Leadership and management were judged Outstanding, while quality of education, early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes all earned Good marks. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 78% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the Kent local authority average of 63%. The school also performed strongly at the higher standard, with 28% achieving that level across all three subjects. Reading scores were particularly impressive: 89% reached the expected standard and 56% hit the higher threshold, with an average scaled score of 110. Maths and writing both saw 78% and 89% at expected respectively, and the school ranks 8th out of 38 primary schools in the Sevenoaks local authority area.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, a sensory room, music rooms, art studios and a gymnasium, plus a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, athletics, swimming, rounders, tennis, netball and cricket, and there are clubs for art, coding, film and chess. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and multi-sensory impairment. There is no nursery or sixth form. Given its strong academic results, improved Ofsted rating and high local demand, Leigh Primary is a good fit for families in Sevenoaks who want a well-led, improving school with a broad extracurricular offer and a clear focus on reading, though they will need to apply early given the oversubscription.

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