SchoolScoresLeigh UTC Dartford
University technical college · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST
Brunel Way, Dartford, DA1 5TF
01322 626600 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 2 June 2026 , published 12 July 2026.
In short: 2 exceptional, 5 strong, 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. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than 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. | Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
106 pupils in this year group.
43% — 4 points below the Kent average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 43% | 47% | 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. | 44.4 | 46.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.3 | 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.
134 pupils in this year group.
90% — 3 points below the Kent average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 90% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 36% | 56% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 2% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 42% | 28% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 2% | 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
20 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C- | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 11% | 26% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 31% | 53% | 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. | 26.3 | 34.9 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
6 subjects, 36 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 15 | 0% | 20% | 40% |
| Physics | 8 | 0% | 0% | 31% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 7 | 0% | 0% | 24% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Biology, German, Portuguese.
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.
53 students in this year group.
87% — 7 points above the Kent average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 87% | 80% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 23% | 6% | 7% |
| Work | 13% | 30% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 81% | 87% |
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.
31 students in this year group.
45% — 13 points below the Kent average, and 15 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 45% | 58% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 3% | 20% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 36% | 45% |
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 Kent. 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 | 119 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 91 |
| Of those, offered a place | 91 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 341 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.6 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.6% | 25.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Higher than 15% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.4% | 2.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Higher than 98% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 28.4% | 11.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Higher than 61% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.8% | 12.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Lower than 69% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.8% | 22.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Lower than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 23.9 | 13.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Lower than 30% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 6.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.44% | 0.03% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Higher than 43% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.5 | 16.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Higher than 61% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Dartford. Higher than 59% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.1% | 13.6%* | 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Dartford Grammar School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 99% grade 5+ English and maths
- Stone Lodge School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- Dartford Grammar School for Girls 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 exceptional, 3 strong · 95% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Riverside 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Dartford Science and Technology College 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- Haberdashers' Crayford Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wilmington Grammar School for Girls 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 89% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wilmington Grammar School for Boys 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 90% grade 5+ English and maths
- Leigh Academy Wilmington 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Leigh UTC Dartford's Ofsted rating?
Leigh UTC Dartford was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 2 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 exceptional, 5 strong, and safeguarding was met.
How did Leigh UTC Dartford do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Leigh UTC Dartford oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 91 families put Leigh UTC Dartford as their first choice for 119 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 91 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 140987.
- 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.