Academy converter · Kent

Leigh Academy Marden

4–11Ages
323Pupils
PrimaryPhase
148116URN

Goudhurst Road, Marden, Tonbridge, TN12 9JX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.7per place

0.8 below Kent median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Kent

98 applications for 59 places · 351st of 385 in Kent

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

74%met the expected standard

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 28 February 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision		Good

Inspection history

28 February 2023
Graded inspection: Good
16 October 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns) · as Marden Primary School, URN 118306

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.7applications per place, Reception

0.8 below Kent median (2.4) 0.5 below England median (2.2)

98 applications · 59 places offered · 53 named it first

2026 1.7; Kent median median 2.4
2025 2.0; Kent median median 2.3
2024 1.7; Kent median median 2.4
2023 1.5; Kent median median 2.3
2022 1.9; Kent median median 2.1
2021 1.6; Kent median median 2.2
2020 1.5; Kent median median 2.2; as the previous school
2019 1.6; Kent median median 2.1; as the previous school
2018 1.4; Kent median median 2.1; as the previous school
2017 1.4; Kent median median 2.2; as the previous school
2016 1.7; Kent median median 2.5; as the previous school
2015 1.6; Kent median median 2.4; as the previous school
2014 1.5; Kent median median 2.3; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Kent median in 0 of 6 years.

This school
Kent median

Dashed bars: as Marden Primary School (URN 118306), the previous school.

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	59	98	1.7	53	0.90
Sep 2025	60	117	2.0	60	1.00
Sep 2024	54	93	1.7	53	0.98
Sep 2023	48	72	1.5	38	0.79
Sep 2022	45	85	1.9	51	1.13
Sep 2021	45	70	1.6	41	0.91
Sep 2020 *	36	55	1.5	30	0.83
Sep 2019 *	40	63	1.6	42	1.05
Sep 2018 *	32	46	1.4	23	0.72
Sep 2017 *	40	57	1.4	34	0.85
Sep 2016 *	31	52	1.7	31	1.00
Sep 2015 *	38	61	1.6	35	0.92
Sep 2014 *	28	43	1.5	25	0.89

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 93% · Writing 81% · Maths 79% → all three 74% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard74%104th of 421 in Kent

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard93%

Kent 78% England 78%

Higher standard55%

Kent 35% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard81%

Kent 77% England 75%

Greater depth24%

Kent 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard79%

Kent 75% England 77%

Higher standard33%

Kent 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Kent median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	74%	19%	108	106
2023/24	79%	9%	107	106
2022/23	68%	8%	109	105

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Leigh Academy MardenThis school
This school

Good2023

1.7applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
St Margaret's, Collier Street Church of England Voluntary Controlled School
2.8 km · Kent

Remains Good2022

2.9applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Staplehurst School
4.6 km · Kent

Good2022
Hunton Church of England Primary School
5.3 km · Kent

2026

3.9applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
Leigh Academy Horsmonden
5.3 km · Kent

Good2023

2.7applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Colliers Green Church of England Primary School
6.0 km · Kent

Remains Good2024

4.5applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
Laddingford St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
6.1 km · Kent

Good2023

2.2applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Coxheath Primary School
6.8 km · Kent

Good2023

2.3applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Goudhurst and Kilndown Church of England Primary School
6.8 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.6applications per place 80%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 148116 · 886/2183
Trust: Leigh Academies Trust
Capacity: 275 pupils · 323 on roll
Free school meals: 33.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2020
Replaced: Marden Primary School (URN 118306)
Address: Goudhurst Road, Marden, Tonbridge, TN12 9JX
Local authority: Kent · Maidstone

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources