Leigh Academy Bearsted

Bearsted Primary Academy has demonstrated outstanding performance in its first inspection, reflecting a robust foundation established since its opening in September 2020. The school fosters a positive atmosphere where pupils are enthusiastic about learning and develop a maturity beyond their years. Supported by the Leigh Academies Trust, the leadership has put in place a bespoke curriculum that aligns with the national standards, ensuring high-quality education for all students, including those with special educational needs. The exceptional quality of early years provision further complements the overall positive educational outcomes for pupils.

Strengths

• Strong leadership with a clear direction and ethos of excellence.
• Exceptional curriculum aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.
• High-quality provision in early years, promoting inquisitive learning.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Strong emphasis on personal development and resilience among pupils.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Leigh Academy Bearsted attended 95.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.3% of pupils at Leigh Academy Bearsted were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Leigh Academy Bearsted had 33.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 17.7% of pupils at Leigh Academy Bearsted were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Leigh Academy Bearsted received £6,262 and spent £6,714 for each of its 390 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £197,000 (£506 per pupil).

Across all 33 schools of Leigh Academies Trust, income was £8,972 and spending £8,821 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Maidstone · Kent local authority: places and applications

Leigh Academy Bearsted is part of Leigh Academies Trust, which runs 33 schools. The nearest others:

• Leigh Academy Snowfields Maidstone
• Leigh Academy Molehill Maidstone
• Leigh Academy Oaks Maidstone
• Leigh Academy Tree Tops Maidstone
• Leigh Academy Langley Park Maidstone
• Leigh Academy Rainham Gillingham
• Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School Rochester
• Leigh Academy Marden Tonbridge
• Leigh Academy Strood Rochester
• Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo Rochester

What is Leigh Academy Bearsted's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Leigh Academy Bearsted is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2023.

When was Leigh Academy Bearsted last inspected by Ofsted?

Leigh Academy Bearsted was last inspected in March 2023.

How many pupils does Leigh Academy Bearsted have?

Leigh Academy Bearsted has 412 pupils on roll.

What age range does Leigh Academy Bearsted cover?

Leigh Academy Bearsted for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Leigh Academy Bearsted's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Leigh Academy Bearsted?

Leigh Academy Bearsted is at Popesfield Way, Weavering, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5GA.