Several Leigh Academies Trust academies have received formal recognition from the Secretary of State for Education for achieving strong attainment outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
The recognition follows national analysis of 2024 to 2025 outcomes and highlights academies whose performance places them among the strongest in the country for supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Leigh Academies Trust academies recognised are:
- Leigh Academy Blackheath, based in Greenwich, south east London
- Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard, based in Dartford, Kent
- Leigh Academy Dartford, based in Dartford, Kent
- Leigh Academy Halley, based in Greenwich, south east London
- Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo, based on the Hoo Peninsula, Kent
- Leigh Academy Molehill, based in Maidstone, Kent
- Leigh Academy Oaks, based in Maidstone, Kent
- Leigh Academy Paddock Wood, based in Paddock Wood, Kent
In her letter to the above academies, the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, wrote:
“Your school’s performance places it among the very best nationally, and this is a significant achievement. This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard work of your pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together.”
Simon Beamish, Chief Executive of Leigh Academies Trust, said:
“Our academies are inclusive by design and place equity at the centre of daily practice. This recognition reflects how our teams support pupils with different starting points, needs and circumstances, while maintaining high expectations for every child. It demonstrates that when inclusion, strong teaching and consistent pastoral support work together, pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds can achieve highly and leave our academies well prepared for the next stage of their education.”
For families and local communities, this recognition matters because it demonstrates that pupils facing disadvantage can achieve highly when teaching, pastoral support and leadership align around clear priorities. It also reinforces the Trust’s commitment to fairness and ambition across all its academies.
Leigh Academies Trust will continue to share effective practice across its academies and with partners locally and nationally, contributing to system improvement and raising standards beyond individual schools.
