Schools by area › Kent › Leigh Academy Wilmington
Leigh Academy Wilmington
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Sponsored academy
Common Lane, Wilmington DA2 7DR · wilmingtonacademy.org.uk · 01322 272111
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 45.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,386
- 99% of 1,400 places
- Local authority
- Kent
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.1%
- First language not English
- 7.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 324 families put the school first and 221 places were offered; 62% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 221 | 324 | 1.5▲ | 62% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 223 | 324 | 1.5▲ | 60% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 230 | 359 | 1.6▲ | 57% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 239 | 287 | 1.2▲ | 73% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 231 | 291 | 1.3▲ | 72% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 45.4, and 45.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Kent it was 46.7, and across England 46.
In 2018/19 the average A level result was grade D- (16.7 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●45.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ●45.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲67.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲83.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.21 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 40.4 | −6.5 |
| Sixth form college | 2.2 | +0.9 |
| Further education | 46.5 | +9.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.3 | +1.2 |
| Employment | 1.7 | −2.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.5 | −1.8 |
| Activity not captured | 1.3 | −0.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
All academic average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78 students | C+ (32.2) | Average +0.03 | |
| 98 students | Merit+ (28.3) | Below average -0.39 |
| Earlier years: All academic | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 55 | C- (27.7) | -0.22 |
| 2022/23 | 67 | C (30.7) | — |
| 2021/22 | 43 | C (30.6) | — |
| 2018/19 | 54 | C (30.7) | +0.19 |
| 2017/18 | 44 | C- (27.1) | +0.16 |
| 2016/17 | 36 | C- (25.4) | +0.04 |
| 2015/16 | 40 | D+ (22.3) | -0.23 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 49.4 | +18.8 |
| Further education | 3.7 | −1.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 9.9 | +1.8 |
| Employment | 27.2 | −11.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.9 | −6.4 |
| Activity not captured | 4.9 | −1.6 |
Ofsted
Leigh Academy Wilmington was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 4 May 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 4 May 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
Previously: Improving, ungraded inspection, Feb 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2022Ungraded inspectionImproving
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (185 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 79%
- Replies
- 185
- 13% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 81% who raised concerns
based on the 45% who had a child bullied
based on 72 parents (39%) with SEND