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
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
We were proud to hold our first Open Events for September 2025 Admissions!
Open Evening
The Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 25th September 2024. The Academy will be open from 4pm for families to self-tour the school site, you will have the opportunity to speak with students and staff, asking questions about our curriculum, pastoral care and opportunities. There will be many activities in the subject areas for your child to participate in to experience our facilities and curriculum.
Mrs Millward, the Principal, will be hosting talks for families in the main hall, they will take place at the following times and will last approximately 30 minutes:-
In the interest of ensuring that as many families can attend each session as possible we would ask that, where possible, viewings include parents/carers and the prospective year 6 pupil only. You will need to book one ticket person, with a maximum of up to four people per family. Due to the maximum capacity in our main hall, booking is essential for these talks. When attending your allocated session please ensure you have the email confirming your booking with you. If you wish to simply tour the Academy and not attend a talk with Mrs Millward, you do not need to book.
Open Day Tours
In addition to our Open Evening, we will be hosting Day Tours for parents with their year 6 child who can have a tour of the academy with a member of our senior leadership team. These tours will be taking place from Monday 30th September 2024 until Friday 11th October 2024 and you can book these events on our website from Monday 9th September onwards.
We hope that you will find our open events informative and engaging, and that these will support your decision that the 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, on the address above.
Appeals
If you have not been offered a place following an in-year application, the law entitles you to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. This panel is completely independent of the school and the Local Authority. In accordance with the 2022 School Admission Appeals Code Appeals, the admission authority and panels have elected for all admissions appeals to be held online.
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 highly recommended 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 state the grounds of your appeal at the time you lodge your appeal form. Your appeal form will not be accepted unless you give the grounds of your appeal. You may appeal for more than one school.
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 using a mobile phone and upload the photographic files.
If you wish to contact the clerk – email : clerk@educationappeals.com
Information about Secondary Transfer appeals will be posted on this website before 28 February 2025.
Timetable for Appeals
Last day for lodging appeal forms
20 School days after the decision letter informing you that you had not been offered a place.
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 hearing. This MAY be emailed.
All in-year appeals will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being lodged.
Closing date for any additional supporting evidence
FIVE working days before your hearing. You are advised that additional paperwork received on the day of the appeal hearing will not be taken into account. Please email files to clerk@educationappeals.com
Please note that slightly different rules will apply for any summer transfer appeals into Year 7.
Letter from the Clerk informing you of the decision of the independent appeal panel
Due to the high number of appeals, an email is sent a few working days after your hearing with the decision of the panel. This is followed up around 10 working days later with a letter outlining the panels’ reasons.