Academy sponsor led · Kent

Leigh Academy Hugh Christie

11–18Ages
688Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
150743URN

White Cottage Road, Tonbridge, TN10 4PU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

1.6 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

242 applications for 160 places · 99th of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.2of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

72nd of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 11 October 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good
Sixth form provision	Good

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

1.5applications per place, Year 7

1.6 below Kent median (3.1) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

242 applications · 160 places offered · 83 named it first

2026 1.5; Kent median median 3.1
2025 1.8; Kent median median 3.0
2024 2.1; Kent median median 3.2; as the previous school
2023 2.1; Kent median median 3.2; as the previous school
2022 2.3; Kent median median 2.9; as the previous school
2021 2.4; Kent median median 3.6; as the previous school
2020 2.3; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
2019 2.4; Kent median median 2.9; as the previous school
2018 2.0; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
2017 2.0; Kent median median 3.0; as the previous school
2016 2.4; Kent median median 3.3; as the previous school
2015 2.2; Kent median median 3.2; as the previous school
2014 2.7; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school

This school
Kent median

Dashed bars: as Hugh Christie School (URN 118903), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, 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	160	242	1.5	83	0.52
Sep 2025	120	214	1.8	64	0.53
Sep 2024 *	132	280	2.1	76	0.58
Sep 2023 *	155	325	2.1	117	0.75
Sep 2022 *	159	364	2.3	148	0.93
Sep 2021 *	172	407	2.4	95	0.55
Sep 2020 *	155	361	2.3	115	0.74
Sep 2019 *	162	381	2.4	151	0.93
Sep 2018 *	161	324	2.0	128	0.80
Sep 2017 *	191	378	2.0	136	0.71
Sep 2016 *	154	373	2.4	118	0.77
Sep 2015 *	176	390	2.2	126	0.72
Sep 2014 *	155	421	2.7	106	0.68

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

124 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.272nd of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths20%89th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths41%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2022/23, the latest published)−0.27

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	124	38.2	20%	41%	–
2024/25	137	40.5	30%	55%	–
2023/24					–
2022/23 *	147	37.8	25%	49%	−0.27

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

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

Leigh Academy Hugh ChristieThis school
This school

Requires improvement2023

1.5applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
Hillview School for Girls
2.9 km · Kent

Remains Good2023

3.2applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
The Judd School
3.1 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

5.6applications per place 78.3Attainment 8 Selective
Leigh Academy Tonbridge
3.2 km · Kent

Good2022

3.6applications per place 43.9Attainment 8
Tonbridge Grammar School
3.3 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

5.4applications per place 77.0Attainment 8 Selective
Weald of Kent Grammar School
3.4 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.3applications per place 69.3Attainment 8 Selective
Hadlow Rural Community School
3.5 km · Kent

Requires improvement2024

3.9applications per place 39.3Attainment 8
St Gregory's Catholic School
7.1 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.4applications per place 44.8Attainment 8
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
7.2 km · Kent

2026

3.9applications per place 64.5Attainment 8 Selective

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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 150743 · 886/4036
Trust: Leigh Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,226 pupils · 688 on roll
Free school meals: 40.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 April 2024
Replaced: Hugh Christie School (URN 118903)
Address: White Cottage Road, Tonbridge, TN10 4PU
Local authority: Kent · Tonbridge and Malling

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources