Leigham Primary School

About Leigham Primary School

Leigham Primary School is a mixed state primary in Plymouth, currently educating 388 pupils against a capacity of 420, so there is a little room to grow. The school serves a community with above-average economic need: 27.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 23%. That context makes the school’s popularity all the more telling. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 64 applications for 41 places, making it officially oversubscribed. Of those, 39 were first-preference applications, and 39 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who put it first got a place, but anyone listing it lower faced a competitive 1.56 applicants per spot. The headteacher is Samantha Barker, and the school has a nursery provision for children from age three.

Academically, Leigham is a strong performer within Plymouth. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 81% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the local authority average of 63%. That score places the school 5th out of 65 primary schools in Plymouth, putting it in the top 10% locally and the top 10% nationally. Individual subject scores were solid: average reading and maths scores both hit 106, with 87% reaching the expected standard in each. At the higher standard, 8% achieved the combined measure, 30% in maths and 19% in reading. The most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and for leadership and management. Behaviour and attitudes, quality of education, and early years provision were all rated Good.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, music rooms, an ICT suite, art studios, playing fields, and a forest school area. Sports on offer include swimming, netball, athletics, rounders and dance, while clubs include choir, gardening, eco club and chess. For SEND, the school lists support for moderate and severe learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, social, emotional and mental health needs, and other difficulties. Parent View responses from 36 families were overwhelmingly positive: 92% would recommend the school, 91% strongly agreed or agreed their child is happy, and 97% felt their child is safe. This is a school that suits families who want strong academic outcomes in a supportive, well-led environment, and who are comfortable with the higher-than-average FSM intake that reflects the local community.

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