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Leigh Academy Strood

United Kingdom, Rochester

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 11 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1309
Type Co-educational
Opened 2009
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), British Curriculum
Taught languages English, French, Spanish
Strengths Performing Arts, STEM, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional
Stages Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Leigh Academy Strood is a secondary academy in Strood, Rochester. It is an IB World School delivering MYP and IBCP, alongside English Baccalaureate framework of English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Foreign Language, History or Geography, and two subjects. The sixth form provides flexible post‑16 routes to higher education or work, with pathways including Applied General qualifications or IB options. The curriculum emphasizes inclusion and character development through the IB learner profile and a broad British Curriculum. The academy operates within Leigh Academies Trust, a sponsor-led Medway school with a four‑college model: Hercules, Victory, Trafalgar and Atlas, each led by a Vice Principal and pastoral team. Facilities include the Endeavour Centre, a Specialist Resource Provision for EHCPs and autism, integrated with mainstream classes, and the Library – Learning Resource Centre with one-to-one devices and literacy software Read&Write and Lexia. Clubs include drama, coding, literacy and STEM, with Duke of Edinburgh and Young Enterprise, and wellbeing activities.

The Essentials

Leigh Academy Strood has 1,309 pupils, instruction in English.

Stages
The school has a college structure with four colleges: Hercules, Victory, Trafalgar and Atlas. The school provides education for Key Stage 3 and 4 and has a Sixth Form.

Additional learning support
The school provides SEND support through the Inclusion and Belonging team. KS3 SENCo is Chantay White; KS4 SENCo is Kerrie Ward; KS5 SENCo is Jo Pearce. Contact: send@strood.latrust.org.uk.

Bus service
School transport includes routes such as 652 (St Mary's Island – Wainscott – Cuxton – Leigh Academy Strood) and MY8 Grain – Leigh Academy Strood. Nu-Venture provides a ticketing app; Nu-Venture App Guide is available.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Branded uniform includes an academy blazer with badge, plain white shirt, and a college tie; a black V-neck jumper with the academy logo is optional. Brigade supplies the uniform online, and a 'Pre-owned' uniform shop supports families. All pupils wear a Leigh Academy Strood PE kit in lessons (navy top and shorts, trainers); additional navy items are optional; all PE kit must be named; seasonal changes may apply.

Food Options
Cucina provides catering services at Leigh Academy Strood, with a Menu and Tariff published for 2025. Free School Meals are available to eligible pupils; FSM eligibility is listed and reapplication is required for 2025-26; meals are paid via a biometric system.

House System
The academy uses a college structure with Hercules College, Victory College, Trafalgar College and Atlas College; each college houses just over 400 pupils and is led by a Vice Principal and two Assistant Principals, supported by pastoral and support staff.

Governance and Ownership
Leigh Academy Strood is part of Leigh Academies Trust, governed by the trust's board.
Fees
Application fees

- There are no application fees to apply for a place at Leigh Academy Strood for statutory school years.

Tuition fees by year group

- Years 7–11 (compulsory secondary education): tuition is not charged. Education provided during academy hours is free of charge; payments are only requested for optional extras. (State-funded day academy provision.)

- Years 12–13 (Sixth Form / Post‑16): there is no routine tuition charge for eligible 16–19 students on the academy's post‑16 programmes. Financial support is available via the academy 16–19 Bursary Fund for eligible students.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Billing is done on an item‑by‑item basis for optional extras (for example trips, residential visits, non‑statutory activities, materials for ownership, and some examination entries). Parents are asked to agree to charges for optional extras before a place on the activity is confirmed.

- Many trips and activities use a deposit + instalment schedule. Example schedules published by the academy include: a non‑refundable prom deposit followed by two instalments to make a total ticket cost, and multi‑instalment payment plans for overseas trips (deposit followed by monthly payments). Example communications show deposit deadlines and staged instalments for individual activities.

- Examination entries and re‑sits: no charge is made for a prescribed public examination if the academy prepared the student; the academy may charge in specific circumstances (e.g., the academy did not prepare the student, an arranged extra entry, re‑sits, or where a student fails to meet coursework/exam obligations).

Boarding fees (if applicable)

- Leigh Academy Strood operates as a day academy and does not offer boarding provision; therefore there are no boarding fees.

Other costs and typical chargeable items

- School trips and residential visits: costs vary by trip. Where a residential visit takes place the academy may charge board and lodging; for other visits the academy may charge the full cost of optional extras (travel, entrance, insurance, equipment). Published recent examples include: Thorpe Park day trip at £41.40 (non‑refundable), an overseas ski trip at £1,360 with a staged payment plan and a non‑refundable deposit, and a Performing Arts Disneyland Paris trip with a structured payment plan totaling £945. These amounts illustrate the way individual activities are priced.

- Prom and social events: example published cost for Year 11 prom is £50 per student with a non‑refundable deposit requirement.

- Music tuition: the academy may charge for optional specialist music tuition where that tuition is not part of the national curriculum.

- Materials and ownership: charges may be made for materials, books or equipment where parents wish to purchase and own them (for example optional project materials, owned textbooks or certain technology accessories). The academy may invite voluntary contributions for items such as the Chromebook scheme.

- Uniform and related clothing: the academy operates a 'pre‑owned' second‑hand uniform shop where parents/carers are asked to make an affordable donation via ParentPay; this scheme is run to support families and the donation income is used to support disadvantaged pupils. New uniform items are required under the academy's uniform policy; costs for new items are set by suppliers and communicated separately by the academy.

- Free school meals and Pupil Premium support: eligible families may receive free school meals and additional support; the academy uses Pupil Premium and bursary funding to support access to uniform, trips and learning resources for eligible students.

Refund information

- Deposits and payments for trips and third‑party travel arrangements are often non‑refundable; individual trip communications state whether payments or deposits are non‑refundable. The Charging and Remissions policy sets the framework for when charges can be made and describes remission arrangements for parents in receipt of qualifying state benefits. The academy may consider hardship or remission on a case‑by‑case basis in line with that policy.

Fee payment options and practical payment methods

- ParentPay is used as the academy's primary e‑payment method for trips, events, clubs and similar chargeable items; the academy issues payment requests and permit staged payments through ParentPay. Payment by cash can be facilitated through the PayPoint network when that option is offered for a specific item. Payment options for each chargeable item are communicated with the payment request.

- Communications and account information are managed through the academy's parent portals (for example My Child At School / ParentMail) while ParentPay is used for financial transactions and payment histories.

Note: charges for optional extras, exam entries in specific circumstances, music tuition (where not part of the national curriculum), materials to take ownership of, trips and residential board and lodging are applied only where permitted by the academy's Charging and Remissions framework and are published/communicated to parents on an activity‑by‑activity basis.
Academics

Leigh Academy Strood teaches IB (MYP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), British Curriculum for students aged 11 to 18.

Curriculum
Leigh Academy Strood delivers a broad, knowledge‑rich curriculum within the IB World School framework. All students experience the English Baccalaureate curriculum, including English, Mathematics, Science, a Modern Foreign Language, History or Geography, and two further subjects. The academy offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) for Key Stage 5, with pathways that may include Applied General qualifications or a combination of IB options. The sixth form provides flexible post‑16 routes designed to support progression to higher education and the workforce. The curriculum emphasises inclusion and character development through the IB learner profile.

Exam Results
Performance data for 2024‑2025 shows Attainment 8 of 41.3 (DfE update Spring 2026) and an English Baccalaureate (EBacc) average of 3.57. 56% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 23.1% achieved a grade 5 or above; 4.9% achieved a grade 7 or above. 52.4% of pupils were entered for the EBacc, and 100% remained in education or entered employment after Key Stage 4. At Key Stage 5, 62% pursued university study, 18% apprenticeships, 20% employment, and 2% degree apprenticeships.

Higher Education Progression
Year 13 destinations show that 62% progressed to university, 18% to apprenticeships, 20% to employment, and 2% to degree apprenticeships.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides pastoral support through a dedicated team within a small-school model. Pupils are placed into three colleges to nurture academic, social and spiritual development. The pastoral team includes a Head of Pastoral, Deputy Head of Pastoral, Senior Student Support Manager, two Student Support Managers, a Safeguarding Officer and College Admin. The school supports pupils academically, socially and spiritually and aims to help them flourish as individuals.

Safeguarding
The safeguarding officer is part of an extensive pastoral team across the three colleges.
Parent Experience

History
Leigh Academy Strood is part of Leigh Academies Trust, a multi-academy trust. The academy operates as a sponsor-led school within Medway. The school uses a small-school model with four colleges: Hercules, Victory, Trafalgar and Atlas. Each college is led by a Vice Principal and two Assistant Principals, with a dedicated pastoral team. The curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate framework, evidenced by IB World School status and the IB Middle Years Programme and IB Career-Related Programme.

Community
Leigh Academy Strood emphasises community and partnerships with pupils, families and staff. Regular news and letters provide information to parents and carers, including weekly bulletins and events such as a Christmas pantomime trip and Year 12 Parents Evening. The Endeavour Centre SRP is integrated with the school and helps pupils feel part of the school community. There is a Pupil Leadership Team that provides student voice and leadership across the academy.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
A new Parent, Teachers and Friends Association was launched for Leigh Academy Strood. The PTFA brings together parents, family members and friends to support and enrich the learning environment and school initiatives. A formal launch meeting was scheduled for Monday, 28 April 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Leigh Academy Strood. Key roles within the PTFA include Treasurer, Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Committee Members and Volunteers. The PTFA is overseen by a steering group to plan events and activities that engage families in the school community. Attendees are invited to learn more and get involved by attending future meetings.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Endeavour Centre is Leigh Academy Strood's Specialist Resource Provision for pupils with an EHCP and autism, integrated with mainstream classes. The Head of the SRP is Mrs Kerrie Ward. There are four colleges within the academy: Hercules College, Victory College, Trafalgar College and Atlas College. The Library – Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is part of the academy's academic facilities. Pupils have access to a one-to-one digital device and benefit from Read&Write and Lexia to support literacy. Leigh Academy Strood offers an International Baccalaureate education including the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Career-Related Programme.

Academic Facilities
Endeavour Centre is Leigh Academy Strood's Specialist Resource Provision for autism, integrated with mainstream classes. The SRP is led by the Head of SRP, Mrs Kerrie Ward. The Library – Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is an academic facility that supports literacy and independent study. Pupils have access to a one-to-one digital device and benefit from Read&Write and Lexia to support learning. The International Baccalaureate program is delivered, including the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Career-Related Programme.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school has lunchtime and after-school clubs as part of a comprehensive personal development programme that extends beyond the classroom. The school has a policy encouraging all pupils to attend at least one club per week to build confidence and teamwork. The school has clubs spanning literacy, drama, coding, art and STEM, along with GCSE Drop-In and maths support. The school has Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) and Young Enterprise as options to broaden intellectual development and practical leadership.

Arts & Creative
The school has KS4/5 Drama Club, Musical Theatre Club and Choir. The school has Stroodette Seniors, Band, Guitar Club and Keyboard Club to support performance and music. The school has Art Club and media-focused activities to foster creativity beyond lessons.

Cultural & Language
The school has LGBTQ+ Club and Diversity Club to promote inclusion and cultural awareness. The school has Young Carers support to assist students balancing caregiving responsibilities. The school has a culture of inclusion through these clubs.

Social & Hobbies
The school has a wide range of social and hobby clubs, including Warhammer, Wii Club and eSports. The school has Mindfulness sessions and sport-related clubs like Table Tennis and Dance/Drama groups. The school has after-school sessions for creative and recreational activities to help students socialise and build friendships.

Community & Service
The school has Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) provision for Year 10 to develop practical and service-oriented skills. The school has Young Carers and other community-focused groups to support student involvement. The school has service-oriented and community-building activities embedded within enrichment.

Leadership & Professional
The school has Young Enterprise programs to develop leadership and entrepreneurship. The school has Sixth Form Enrichment Programme and Careers Education to prepare students for life beyond school. The school has a strong Personal Development focus within its curriculum to support professional skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school has Mindfulness sessions to support student wellbeing. The school has a Girls Only Gym and a Health Suite as part of its wellbeing and fitness provisions. The school has a range of wellness and physical activity opportunities, including after-school sports and clubs.
Languages

Language Provision
First Language: English, the language of instruction (Language A). Students with limited English receive initial language support, and mother-tongue instruction or support in other First Languages is offered where possible. All students study a second language (French or Spanish) in Key Stage 3, with continued study into Key Stage 4; NCELP is used in Key Stage 3 to support language pedagogy. Language Development and Language Acquisition are part of the Careers Programme, and parental engagement supports language learning through digital tools and forums.

Bilingual Teaching
The school teaches English as Language A, the language of instruction; all teachers act as language-teachers to support language development across the curriculum. English-language support is provided for students with limited English, and mother-tongue instruction or support in other First Languages is offered where possible. In the IB Middle Years Programme, all students study at least two languages: Language A (English) and a second language, with French and Spanish offered as Languages B. NCELP is followed for Language B in Key Stage 3.
Admissions

Admissions
1) Applications for Year 7 places are made through Medway Council's coordinated admissions scheme using the Common Application Form provided by the home local authority. The Published Admission Number (PAN) for 11-16 provision is 240, and the academy will admit up to 240 pupils if that number of applications is received. If applications exceed the PAN, oversubscription criteria are applied in the following order: Children in Care and previously Looked After Children; Siblings; Children of Leigh Academy Strood staff; Health and Special Access reasons; and Distance. Placements are ranked by distance, and tie-breaks use distance; if still tied, places are allocated by random allocation overseen by an independent party.

2) The process for Year 7 admission includes an official offers stage on national offer day (2 March 2026 for September 2026 entry) issued by Medway Council. Leigh Academy Strood sends a Welcome letter on 3 March 2026 with registration details and a link to Applica to complete enrollment. The deadline to accept or refuse the offer is 27 March 2026. A Welcome Evening for Parents takes place on 29 April 2026 (4-5pm) to meet teachers and learn about the academy, followed by a Transition Day for pupils on 2 July 2026 and the first day of attendance on 1 September 2026.

3) In-year casual admissions are handled via an online form. The application is submitted through the in-year admissions link and is forwarded to the admissions department for processing. The admissions team can be contacted as part of this process for guidance and next steps.

4) Arrangements for admission to the 11-16 provision are published with the policy, including the exact oversubscription criteria and how distances are calculated. Applicants eligible under criteria 1-5 are ranked by the nearness of their home to the academy, using the shortest route available. In the event of a tie, distance is used as the tie-breaker, and if still equal, random allocation determines the outcome.

5) Deferred entry requests are allowed for admissions outside the normal age group. These requests should be made to the Principal as early as possible in the admissions round related to the child's date of birth. Medical or educational evidence may be submitted, but is not required, and a normal application should also be submitted to cover the standard entry point if the request is declined.

6) Arrangements for post-16 (Year 12) admissions specify minimum academic entry criteria: 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 5 or above, with additional course requirements published in the prospectus. Internal applicants meeting the criteria are admitted to the Sixth Form even if it exceeds capacity; external applicants are admitted if places remain after internal offers. If 150 internal Year 11 students transfer into Year 12, no external applicants are admitted; if fewer than 150 internal students transfer, external applicants are admitted until the Year 12 capacity of 150 is reached. Where external applications exceed places, the oversubscription criteria 1-5 are applied after the EHCP process if applicable.

7) Waiting lists for all admissions are operated subject to the coordinated scheme. When the academy receives more applications than places, a waiting list is maintained and open to parents to add their child's name. Waiting list offers are made in priority order according to the oversubscription criteria, not in date order, and the list is re-ranked whenever a child is added or removed before a place is offered.

8) Appeals are available if a place is not offered. The Independent Appeal Panel handles all appeals online. The timetable for appeals for Year 7 in 2026 includes a last lodging date of 4pm on 2 April 2026 to be heard in the first tranche (stage 1) on 22 May 2026, with stage 2 private hearings following as needed. The online appeal form is the designated channel, and documents can be uploaded as part of the process.

9) Sixth Form appeals follow a similar process. The timetable for Sixth Form appeals is published and allows for hearings to occur in September 2026, with the necessary documentation and evidence submitted in advance. The appeal panel's decision is final and binding.

10) The school also publishes a dedicated Admissions Arrangements document for 2025-26 and 2026-27 that provides detailed procedural steps, including how to apply, how to be considered for oversubscription, and how waiting lists are managed.

Scholarships
The Sixth Form Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome barriers to participation in education. The scheme operates on two levels: Level 1 bursaries for defined vulnerable groups (e.g., in care, care leavers, or those in receipt of certain benefits) and Level 2 discretionary bursaries based on household income and need. Eligible students must be under 19 on 31 August of the relevant academic year and meet residency criteria. Level 1 awards can be up to £1,200 per annum; Level 2 awards are determined by income and evidence provided. Applications are encouraged after September, and decisions are made by the Assistant Principal responsible for Post 16 and the Finance Manager. The bursary process includes an application form and supporting documentation, with appeals rights if payments are stopped. The bursary forms and policy are published by the Sixth Form administration for transparency.

Waitlist
The academy operates a waiting list when applications exceed available places. The waiting list is maintained by the academy and can be joined by any parent following an unsuccessful application. Places from the waiting list are allocated in priority order according to the published oversubscription criteria and distance, rather than by the date the application was received, and the list is re-ranked each time a child is added or removed.
School Events
The school has not added events
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