Leigh Academy Strood

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Children in care / previously looked after — Children in Care and previously Looked After Children (a looked after child is one in the care of, or accommodated by, a local authority in the exercise of its social services functions; a previously looked after child includes those adopted, or subject to a child arrangements or special guardianship order, immediately after being looked after, and those who appear to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be so through adoption).
2. 2Sibling — Students whose sibling(s) currently attend the academy and will continue to do so at the time of entry (brother/sister includes natural, adopted, step and foster siblings living in the same house; not extended family such as cousins).
3. 3Children of staff — The son or daughter of a member of staff who has been employed at the academy for two or more years at the time of application, or who has been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4. 4Health and special access reasons — Priority to students whose medical or social reasons (or those of their parents/guardians) mean they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend Leigh Academy Strood, supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or social worker submitted at the time of application, applied in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
5. 5Distance — Applicants ranked by nearness of home to the academy, using the shortest known route/footpath per Medway's GIS.

If two applications tie: Applicants eligible under criteria 1-5 are each ranked, within their criterion, by nearness of home to the academy (criterion 5's distance method: shortest route known to Medway's GIS; multi-occupancy buildings resolved by random allocation; new roads measured from the nearest road known to the GIS). If, after this, two or more applicants have equal eligibility for the last available place, names are numbered and drawn randomly, overseen by a person independent of the academy trust.

Applications are considered after admission of students with an EHCP naming Leigh Academy Strood (stated ahead of the numbered list, not itself numbered). Multiple-birth siblings: if the PAN would be reached partway through admitting a group of siblings from a multiple birth, all are offered a place, even above PAN. Admission outside the normal age group ("deferred entry") can be requested to the Principal; evidence is not required but strengthens the request; a normal-point-of-entry application must also be made in parallel. Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) is the admission authority.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.