SchoolScoresLeigh Academy Strood
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST
Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester, ME2 2SX
01634 717121 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 13 July 2026.
In short: 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
225 pupils in this year group.
23% — 21 points below the Medway average, and 22 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 23% | 44% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 41.2 | 46.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
215 pupils in this year group.
90% — about the same as the Medway average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 90% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 37% | 54% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 41% | 28% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 6% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 90% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
38 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D+ | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 5% | 21% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 28% | 47% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 24.8 | 32.7 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
7 subjects, 61 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 14 | 0% | 0% | 27% |
| Art and Design (3d Studies) | 11 | 0% | 0% | 28% |
| History | 11 | 0% | 9% | 23% |
| Chemistry | 9 | 0% | 0% | 30% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 6 | 0% | 17% | 38% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Photography), Mathematics.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
77 students in this year group.
75% — about the same as the Medway average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 75% | 76% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 9% | 7% |
| Work | 32% | 33% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 82% | 75% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
60 students in this year group.
67% — 16 points above the Medway average, and 7 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 67% | 51% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 7% | 11% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 61% | 67% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 246 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 199 |
| Of those, offered a place | 199 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 497 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.8
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 and a SEN unit with 50 places for autism. 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 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 74% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 38.4% | 27.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 32% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.2% | 1.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.7% | 12.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.7% | 13.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 34% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.3% | 7.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 19% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 30.1% | 21.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 81% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.4 | 23.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.4% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 63% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.4 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 88% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 75% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 18.5% | 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
- Gad's Hill School 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- King's School, Rochester 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 25% A*/A at A level
- Maritime Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Rochester Independent College 2.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 26% A*/A at A level
- Cobham Hall 2.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 11% A*/A at A level
- The Rochester Grammar School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 92% grade 5+ English and maths
- Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 94% grade 5+ English and maths
- Fort Pitt Grammar School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 85% grade 5+ English and maths
- St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Restore 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Leigh Academy Strood's Ofsted rating?
Leigh Academy Strood was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Leigh Academy Strood do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 23% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 22 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Leigh Academy Strood oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 199 families put Leigh Academy Strood as their first choice for 246 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 199 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 135964.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.