Leigh Academies Trust has agreed to increase the number of Year 7 places available at Leigh Academy Minster for the forthcoming academic year, ahead of National Offer Day on Monday 2nd March.
Leigh Academy Minster is now one of the most popular secondary academies in Kent. First preference applications have risen sharply in recent years as standards, behaviour and leadership have strengthened substantially. The academy is now significantly oversubscribed on first preferences alone.
In response to this sustained demand, Kent County Council and the Department for Education approached the Trust to explore options to expand capacity for this year’s intake. The Trust has agreed to admit an additional class to help address immediate pressure on local secondary places and enable more families to secure their preferred academy on the Island. This is the second year in a row that the Trust has taken the decision to add an extra 30 places to Year 7.
Simon Beamish, Chief Executive of Leigh Academies Trust, said:
“Leigh Academy Minster is a school that families are actively choosing. We recognise the pressure on places locally and, following discussions with Kent County Council and the Department for Education, we have agreed to increase our Year 7 intake again this year to support the community.”
The Trust and academy leaders have reviewed staffing, curriculum capacity and accommodation to manage the additional intake while maintaining strong standards. Planning is in place to secure the staffing and space required to support the expanded cohort.
Alongside this increase for September, Leigh Academies Trust is committed to working closely with Kent County Council on a longer-term plan to provide additional permanent capacity in future years. Discussions are underway to develop sustainable solutions that meet rising demand on the Isle of Sheppey and provide local families with access to high-quality secondary places.
