Admissions
Leigh Academy Rainham is a non-selective academy for boys and girls. Prospective pupils are not required to take or pass the Medway Test or any other entry tests to apply for a place at the Academy. This page provides the necessary documentation to understand the Admissions Arrangements for prospective Year 7 pupils. Leigh Academy Rainham’s PAN is 180. (PAN = the number of student spaces per year group.
Timeline for September 2025 admissions (for Medway)
Secondary school applications open
Monday 2nd September 2024
Medway Test for children who attend a Medway primary school
Tuesday 17th September 2024
Wednesday 18th September 2024
Medway Test for children who do not attend a Medway primary school
Saturday 21st September 2024
Sunday 22nd September 2024
Medway Test results
Wednesday 16th October 2024
Secondary school applications close
Thursday 31st October 2024
Secondary school offers sent
Monday 3rd March 2025
Year 6 Welcome Evening Event
Thursday 24th April 2025 (6-7pm)
Brigade Uniform Fitting Event
Monday 16th June 2025 (4-6pm)
Year 6 Transition Day
Thursday 3rd July 2025
Parent Transition Event
Thursday 3rd July 2025 (6-7pm)
Admissions FAQs
No. Children do not need to sit or pass the 11 plus or any other form of test to apply for our Academy. We are an inclusive academy that will be open to all pupils regardless of their academic ability.
Yes you should apply elsewhere as we cannot guarantee anyone a place. We strongly encourage you to use all your options as there has been significant interest in the Academy and it is very possible we may be oversubscribed. It is crucial that you also apply to other schools in the area via this website so that your child is not left without a place at a local school:
There is no defined distance, postcodes or council areas we will be offering places to so if you live in Medway, or Swale, we encourage you to apply! We are often asked what mileage from the academy you will need to be in order to receive a place but there is not a specific border to our catchment. Whether you are successful in receiving a place is determined by the number of other applications we receive from children that may happen to live closer to the Academy than you. This means the catchment distance may vary year to year based on how many other people apply at various distances. If we are oversubscribed we apply our admissions criteria (as outlined in the document at the top of this page) and distance will be one of these criteria.
Yes and we encourage you to apply! As outlined above if we are over subscribed, distancing criteria is applied, therefore places are offered based on distance, not councils. Leigh Academy Rainham will be represented on both Medway and Kent County Council Admissions Pages so that you can apply regardless of which council you live in.
At LAR, we are committed to sustainability and helping our community. We have set up a Uniform Recycle Bin located just outside the reception area. Parents are encouraged to drop off any uniforms that are no longer needed.
Here’s how it works:
- Drop Off: Place your no-longer-needed uniforms in the bin.
- Collection: The bin is periodically emptied, and all donations are thoroughly washed.
- Reuse: Cleaned uniforms are displayed at our open events for parents to purchase for a small cash donation.
Your contributions help other families and support our community.
Thank you for your generosity and participation!
Open Events for September 2025 Admissions
Our open events for September 2025 Admissions have now concluded.
Open Day Tours
Our open day tours have now concluded.
Tours for September 2026 admissions will be announced in 2025.
Please check back later for details.
Year 6 Taster Sessions
Our year 6 taster sessions have now concluded.
Following a successful Year 6 Taster Evening in 2024, we will be looking to provide similar opportunities for year 6 students in 2025.
Please check back later for details.
We hope that you found our open events informative and engaging, and that these have supported your decision that Leigh Academy Rainham is your school of choice for your child.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the Academy via our email address info@leighacademyrainham.org.uk
In year admissions
For in year admissions at Leigh Academy Rainham, an application form is available via the link below.
In Year Admissions to Leigh Academy Rainham
Furthermore, if you have any admission enquiries for Leigh Academy Rainham, please contact the Academy on 01634 412440 or via email at admissions@leighacademyrainham.org.uk.
Appeals
If you have not been offered a place at Leigh Academy Rainham, the law entitles you to appeal against that decision to an Independent Appeal Panel. This panel is completely independent of the school and the Local Authority. All appeals will be heard online which has the advantage that your appeal can be heard from your home or place of work.
If you wish to appeal, please use this link to complete your appeal online. Please do NOT use ANY other appeal form or send your form to your local authority. It is suggested that you download the explanatory booklet about appeals which you should read before you complete the appeal form –
You should include any evidence or supporting material with your appeal form and you MUST give the grounds for your appeal at the time you lodge your appeal form. Your appeal form will not be accepted unless you state the grounds for your appeal. You may appeal for more than one school, but on different forms.
Any letters or reports that you wish the panel to see should be uploaded at this time. You are asked to bear in mind that if you later send additional information, the closing date is 5 working days before the STAGE 1 hearing. All appointed panels have agreed NOT to take any late letters or reports after the 5 working day deadline. This will be strictly enforced. For secondary/primary transfer appeals, the hearing will take place at least TWO months after the refusal letter. This gives you plenty of time to get your evidence together if you act early and take account of school holidays.
Please note that the online form will ask you to download two utility bills dated in the last THREE months. If you do not have access to a scanner, please take two photographs with a mobile phone and upload the photographic files.
Full details about the hearing will be sent to you with your invitation to the hearing.
If you wish to contact the clerk – email: clerk@educationappeals.com
Timetable for Appeals
Last day for lodging appeal forms for a place in year 7 to start in September 2025
4pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025 to guarantee that your appeal will be heard in the first tranche of appeals. Appeals lodged later may not be heard until the second tranche which could be in September 2025. You MUST state the reasons for your appeal and supply any documentary evidence at this stage.
The stage 1 part of the hearing (with other parents present) will take place on
Monday 12 May 2025 at 5.00 pm.
Part 2, the individual private hearings will take place on
Tuesday 13 May 2025 (depending on the number of appeals)
Invitation letter giving details about your hearing will be sent by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel
At least 10 school days before the stage 1 hearing.
Any additional supporting evidence
Closing date is Friday 2 May 2025. You are advised that additional paperwork received on the day of the appeal hearing will not be taken into account. Please provide the Clerk with ONE copy of any new additional evidence BY EMAIL ONLY. These must be sent to clerk@educationappeals.com.
Letter from the Clerk informing you of the decision of the independent appeal panel
Due to the high number of appeals held at this time, this may not be sent until up to 10 working days after the last hearing for the school.
Mid-Term Applications Appeals
Last day for lodging appeal forms following a refusal for a place ‘in year’ or ‘mid-term’ excluding 6th form.
You must lodge the appeal form within 20 school days upon receipt of your letter of refusal. You MUST state the reasons for your appeal and supply documentary evidence at this stage. Appeals are held within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal form.
Sixth Form Applications Appeals
Last day for lodging appeals
4pm on Thursday 28 August 2025 to guarantee that your appeal will be heard within the first weeks of September. You MUST state the reasons for your appeal on the online form and supply any documentary evidence at this stage e.g. a copy of your result sheet.
Please note the timetable is very short to enable those appellants who win appeals to start as early into the school year as possible.
Click here for the 6th form appeal form.
Appeal date
The date will be during the month of September 2025.