SchoolScoresLeigh Academy Rainham
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST
Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8GS
01634 412440 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 27 February 2024.
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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
168 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Gillingham (Medway) comparisons use the 3 of its 6 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 3 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Gillingham (Medway) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 41% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 74% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 75% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 69% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 73 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 66% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55% | 46% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 134 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 51% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 64% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 58% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83%said yes | 68% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Gillingham (Medway) figures pool parents at the Gillingham (Medway) schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Medway. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 174 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 176 |
| Of those, offered a place | 156 (89%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 681 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.0
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 a SEN unit with 32 places for moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 43% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.6% | 27.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.3% | 1.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 23.7% | 12.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.1% | 13.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 84% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2% | 7.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 78% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 17.3% | 21.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.9 | 23.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 46% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.2% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.38% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 81% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.4 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.6 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 51% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 13.4% | 15.3%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools
- Rainham School for Girls 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Howard School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 exceptional, 4 strong, 2 expected · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- Rainham Mark Grammar School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 87% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Robert Napier School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 16% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Leigh Academy Rainham's Ofsted rating?
Leigh Academy Rainham was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 27 February 2024.
Would parents recommend Leigh Academy Rainham?
83% of the 168 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Leigh Academy Rainham to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Leigh Academy Rainham oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 176 families put Leigh Academy Rainham as their first choice for 174 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 156 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 148577.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.