Leigh Academy Strood

Based in Strood, near Rochester, Leigh Academy Strood is a secondary school for children aged 11 to 19 and takes boys and girls. The school currently has about 1305 pupils. It is an academy rather than a council-run school, though Medway still coordinates the application process. There is a sixth form on site, so students can stay on for post-16 study. Mr Jon Richardson leads the school.

Inspection at a glance

At its most recent Ofsted inspection on 9 June 2026, Leigh Academy Strood was inspected under Ofsted's new report card system, which does not give a single overall grade. Inspectors rated 7 areas (5 strong standard, 2 expected standard): Leadership and Governance: strong standard; Curriculum and Teaching: strong standard; Achievement: expected standard; Attendance and Behaviour: strong standard; Personal Development and Wellbeing: strong standard; Inclusion: strong standard; Sixth Form (Post-16): expected standard. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.

How the school is performing

At A level the published average grade is D+ (2024/25). Overall absence stands at 9.3%, which is attendance of about 90.7% (2024/25). Around 38% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Figures come from the Department for Education's published school performance data and are shown in full further down this page.

Getting a place at Leigh Academy Strood

You apply for a place at Leigh Academy Strood on the secondary common application form through Medway, with the national deadline of 31 October. Where there are more applications than places, the school's published oversubscription criteria decide who is offered a place, typically starting with looked-after children and siblings. There is no separate entrance assessment. Always check the current admissions policy on the school's own website before you apply, because criteria can change year to year.

SEND at a glance

Leigh Academy Strood is described in the published data as a mainstream school with resourced provision and SEN unit. Named areas of need it supports include Autism. Recorded provision: Resourced provision and SEN unit: resourced provision capacity 25, SEN unit capacity 25; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.

Leigh Academy Strood contact details and location

You will find Leigh Academy Strood at Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent, ME2 2SX. The school office can be reached on 01634 717121. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.