UKSchoolSearch
OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 148577

Leigh Academy Rainham

Free schools · Gillingham · ME8 8GS

Ages 11–19 · 964 pupils · Medway

School website

Ofsted

Good

Overall absence

6.5%

Admissions demand

1.07 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-02-27

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)16.4%
Unauthorised3.4%
Authorised absence
3.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.8%
Enrolments in measure
659

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.07 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

190

Places offered

178

1st-preference offers

167

Total preferences (any rank)
668
Preferred offers (top 3)
178
Applications from outside LA
99
Offers to outside-LA applicants
27
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill84%

964 pupils · 1,150 places

Pupils on roll
964
Boys / girls
520 / 444
School capacity
1,150
Capacity fill
964 / 1,150 (84%)
Free school meals
22.3%
FSM pupils
215
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST
Academy trust
LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST
Sponsor
Leigh Academies Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Alexandra Cramlington

Location

Address
Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham
Postcode
ME8 8GS
Town
Gillingham
County
Kent
Local authority
Medway
District
Medway
Constituency
Gillingham and Rainham
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Resourced provision
SEN unit
SEN unit places
32 on roll / 32 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–19, in Gillingham, Medway, 964 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 22.3%. SEN provision includes: MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty.

Open schools in Gillingham
43
Secondary schools in Gillingham
7
Academies among open schools in Gillingham
70% (30)
Open schools in ME8
18
Secondary in ME8
4
Open schools in Medway LA
117
Secondary in Medway LA
19

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in GillinghamNear ME8

  • Rainham School for Girls

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Gillingham · ME8 0BX · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att846.1
    • P80.3
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence9.2%

    1.4 miles away

  • The Howard School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Gillingham · ME8 0BX · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att842.5
    • P80.2
    • EM5+34%
    • Absence7.0%

    1.4 miles away

  • Rainham Mark Grammar School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Gillingham · ME8 7AJ · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att863.4
    • P80.3
    • EM5+92%
    • Absence6.7%

    1.4 miles away

  • The Robert Napier School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Gillingham · ME7 2LX · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att827.9
    • P8-1.0
    • EM5+8%
    • Absence13.0%

    2.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Alexandra Cramlington
Telephone
01634412440
Website
https://leighacademyrainham.org.uk/

Official links