The Leigh Academy
Address
Map
Green Street Green Road

Dartford
,
Kent
,
DA1 1QE

England
Coordinates51°26′13″N 0°14′06″E / 51.437°N 0.235°E / 51.437; 0.235
Information
Former names
  • The Downs School
  • The Leigh City Technology College
TypeAcademy
MottoOpening Minds to Success
Established2007; 17 years ago (2007)
FounderSir Geoffrey Leigh
Local authorityKent
TrustLeigh Academies Trust
Department for Education URN135297 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalJules Collins
CEOSimon Beamish
GenderMixed
Age11 to 19
Enrolment1,465[1]
Houses  Shakespeare

  Mandela
  Curie
  Seacole

  Attenborough
Websitewww.leighacademy.org.uk

The Leigh Academy is a state funded academy for the Dartford area of Kent, England. It is part of the Leigh Academies Trust. The academy's principal, also serving as CEO of the trust, is Simon Beamish;[2] he succeeded Frank Green as the principal when it was designated a City Technology College from 1997 to 2007. Prior to 1997, the Leigh was called the Downs School.

History

Dartford East Secondary Modern School was built in the 1930s as two schools for boys and girls on both sides of Green Street Green Road on East Hill in Dartford. The name was changed to the Downs Secondary Modern School for Boys, and the Downs Secondary Girls School and then just The Downs. The girls school was rebuilt in the 1970s, by Howard Lobb and Partners for Kent County Council.[3] Greenstraete indicates the site of an overgrown Roman road.[4]

The Leigh Academy occupies the former site of the Downs secondary school. In 1990 it became the Leigh City Technology College when it opened as one of the original 15 City Technology Colleges.[5] In September 2007, The Leigh became an academy. In May 2013, the Academy's Ofsted ratings were reduced from outstanding to good.[6]

Academy

In January 2008 students and staff moved into the new school. The official opening of the academy took place on 20 June 2008, led by Lord Coe.[7]

The academy is split into five colleges: Shakespeare, Seacole, Curie, Mandela and Attenborough. Each College has its own Head of College and Assistant Head of College.

Leigh Academies Trust

The Leigh Academy is part of Leigh Academies Trust.

References

  1. ^ "Performance Tables". Department for Education. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  2. ^ "SIMON BEAMISH APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE". Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Edith's Streets: M25 Dartford The Brent". Edith's Streets. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  4. ^ Glover, Judith. The place names of Kent. Meresborough. p. 84. ISBN 0905270614.
  5. ^ "Sir Jeffrey Leigh". Retrieved 28 December 2013.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Wheatley, Edward. "The Leigh Technology Academy" (PDF). Digital copy of Ofsted report. Ofsted. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Sir Geoffrey Leigh, and Lord Coe opening the school". Image. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.

External links

Leigh Academies Trust schools
Schools in Kent (including Medway)
Authority control databases
Categories