Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy (SGLA), formerly known as ''The Leigh Academy'', is named after its founding sponsor, Sir Geoffrey Leigh. The academy was renamed in September 2024 as part of a rebranding initiative by its governing body, the multi-academy trust known as

Leigh Academies Trust Leigh Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust, formed of 31 schools based in the Kent, Medway and South East London areas. Its Head Office is on the same site as Strood Academy, housing its Executive Team and central teams including Finance, E ...

. The trust's

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...

, Simon Beamish, previously served as principal of The Leigh Academy, succeeding Frank Green. Before its academisation in 2007, The Leigh Academy was known as ''Leigh City Technology College'' and held

City Technology College In England, a City Technology College (CTC) is an urban all-ability specialist schoolWalter (2007), p. 6 for students aged 11 to 18 specialising in science, technology and mathematics. They charge no fees and are independent of local authority ...

status from 1997 to 2007. Prior to this, it was known as ''The'' ''Downs School''.

History

Dartford East Secondary Modern School was built in the 1930s as two schools for boys and girls on both sides of Green Street Green Road on East Hill in Dartford. The name was changed to the Downs Secondary Modern School for Boys, and the Downs Secondary Girls School and then simply The Downs. The girls school was rebuilt in the 1970s, by Howard Lobb and Partners for Kent County Council. Greenstraete indicates the site of an overgrown Roman road. The Leigh Academy occupies the former site of the Downs secondary school. In 1990 it became the Leigh City Technology College when it opened as one of the original 15 City Technology Colleges. In September 2007, The Leigh became an academy. In May 2013, the Academy's Ofsted ratings were reduced from outstanding to good.

Academy

In January 2008 students and staff moved into the new school. The official opening of the academy took place on 20 June 2008, led by

Lord Coe Sebastian Newbold Coe, Baron Coe, (born 29 September 1956), often referred to as Seb Coe, is a British sports administrator, former politician and retired track and field athlete. As a middle-distance runner, Coe won four Olympic medals, inc ...

. The academy is split into five colleges: Shakespeare, Seacole, Curie, Mandela and Attenborough. Each College has its own Head of College and Assistant Head of College.

Leigh Academies Trust

The Leigh Academy is part of

References

External links

* {{authority control Leigh City Technology College Dartford Secondary schools in Kent Academies in Kent Leigh Academies Trust Educational institutions established in 2007 2007 establishments in England