SchoolScoresLeigh Academy Cherry Orchard
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST
Cherry Orchard, Cherry Orchard Road, Ebbsfleet Valley, Ebbsfleet, DA10 1AD
01322 242011 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 9 November 2021.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
59 pupils in this year group.
83% — 21 points above the Kent average, and 21 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 83% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 29% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 85% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 88% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Kent. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 2 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 132 |
| Of those, offered a place | 58 (44%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 296 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 2.2 · 2025: 2.1 · 2026: 2.2
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 15 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years Joint 320th highest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.7% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 55th highest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support Joint 395th highest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.0% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 105th highest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.5% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 28th lowest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) Joint 36th lowest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Lower than 88% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 330th lowest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Lower than 28% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 251st lowest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Higher than 98% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 28.7 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 14th highest of 459 state primary schools in Kent. Higher than 95% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 14.9 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 81st highest of 443 state primary schools in Kent. Higher than 81% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 23.9% | 14.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Ebbsfleet Green Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 97% met expected standard (KS2)
- Manor Community Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Craylands School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Springhead Park Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bean Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Knockhall Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lawn Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Northfleet 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sedley's CofE Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Painters Ash Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard's Ofsted rating?
Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 9 November 2021.
How did Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 21 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 132 families put Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard as their first choice for 59 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 58 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 142517.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.