Leigh Academy Blackheath

United Kingdom, London

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The school at a glance

Instructs in English

Fees Fees not listed

Ages 11 - 18 years

Type Co-educational

Opened 2018

Bus Service No

Availability Not shared by this school

Academic offering

Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification

Taught languages Spanish, French, German

Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages

Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service

Stages Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form

Introduction

Leigh Academy Blackheath is a comprehensive 11–18 academy located on Old Dover Road, Blackheath, London SE3 8SY. It delivers the IB Middle Years Programme for Key Stage 3 and the Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme at post-16, alongside a British curriculum and BTEC options. The school teaches in English and provides Spanish as a language acquisition. KS3 uses IBMYP across Language and Literature, Maths, Science, Geography, History, RE, Arts, Design and Physical Education, with Accelerated Reader and a LAB Learner programme supporting enquiry and independent study. KS4 aligns with the EBacc framework. LAB16 offers around 20 Level 3 courses and includes an Oxbridge progression programme. Facilities include science labs, design technology and ICT spaces, a professional kitchen, a theatre, music and drama spaces, a library, a sports hall and MUGA, and lift access. LAB is part of Leigh Academies Trust and operates as an IB World School. Wellbeing and community involvement.

www.leighacademyblackheath.org.uk

Old Dover Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 8SY

Gallery

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Vibes and Culture

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The Essentials

Location

Leigh Academy Blackheath is located on Old Dover Road, Blackheath, SE3 8SY, London. It sits in the Blackheath Standard neighbourhood within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The bespoke new campus opened in September 2020 to deliver Leigh Academy Blackheath's human-scale education model on a purpose-built campus. LAB16, the post-16 provision, forms part of Leigh Academy Blackheath on the same campus.

Stages

11-18; comprehensive secondary school with a Sixth Form and IB World School

Type

comprehensive secondary school

Additional learning support

SEN provision follows a graduated approach (Universal, Targeted and Specialist). The SEN team is led by the SENCo, Ms S Williams. Support information includes contacts via send@blackheath.latrust.org.uk and collaboration with external professionals; policies and guidance are available on the LAB SEN page.

Country affiliation

United Kingdom

School day structure

The school gate opens at 8:00 am. Students are advised to travel by public transport, walk or cycle; there is bicycle storage on site, and car drop-off is discouraged near the academy entrance.

Diving Deeper

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Fees

Application fees

- There are no application or tuition charges to apply for a place at Leigh Academy Blackheath; applications for Year 7 places are made through the local authority common application process.

Tuition fees by year group (per term and per academic year)

- Year 7: Per term GBP 0. Per academic year (3 terms) GBP 0.
- Year 8: Per term GBP 0. Per academic year (3 terms) GBP 0.
- Year 9: Per term GBP 0. Per academic year (3 terms) GBP 0.
- Year 10: Per term GBP 0. Per academic year (3 terms) GBP 0.
- Year 11: Per term GBP 0. Per academic year (3 terms) GBP 0.
- Year 12 (LAB16 / Sixth Form): Per term GBP 0. Per academic year (3 terms) GBP 0.
- Year 13 (LAB16 / Sixth Form): Per term GBP 0. Per academic year (3 terms) GBP 0.

Leigh Academy Blackheath is a state-funded free school and does not charge tuition for education provided during academy hours. Any statutory examination entries for which the academy has prepared the student are not charged.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The academy operates a cashless payments system. Payments for meals, trips, clubs and other payable items are collected via the ParentPay system; cash top-ups are available at local PayPoint stores where offered. Login details for the e-payment system are issued on a pupil's first day. Payments for optional activities are collected in advance and parental agreement is required before the academy provides chargeable optional extras.

Boarding fees (if applicable)

- Not applicable. Leigh Academy Blackheath is a day secondary school and does not provide boarding accommodation.

Other costs or fees

- School meals: Students may purchase food on site via the academy catering service; parents pay through ParentPay unless the child is eligible for free school meals. A published food tariff is used for meal pricing.
- Uniform and dress code: A full school uniform is required; parents are responsible for purchasing required items (blazer, ties, trousers/skirts, PE kit, etc.). Official suppliers list uniform items for sale.
- Optional trips and residential visits: Charges may be made for board, lodging, travel, entrance fees, insurance and other costs for optional trips or residential visits. Where an activity is mainly during academy hours the academy may charge for board and lodging; for activities outside academy hours the full cost to each student may be charged. Parents' voluntary contributions may be requested for some activities.
- Music and specialist tuition: Charges may apply for music or vocal tuition where this is an optional extra and not part of the national curriculum.
- Examination fees: No charge is made for entry to prescribed public examinations when the academy has prepared the student, but charges may apply in specific cases (e.g., a student is entered for an exam the academy has not prepared them for, a re-sit for which the academy has already paid the initial fee, or where a student fails to attend without good reason).
- Consumables, equipment and optional ownership of materials: The academy may charge where parents wish to own materials (for example, projects, workbooks or equipment) supplied as part of a curriculum activity.
- Liability for damage or negligence: The academy will seek payment for the cost of wilful or negligent damage to academy property caused by a pupil.
- Sixth-form (16–19) specific support: Eligible 16–19 students may apply for financial support from the 16–19 Bursary Fund to cover items such as travel, essential books, equipment, or costs related to participation in study programmes. Payment arrangements and conditions are set out in the academy's 16–19 bursary guidance.

Refund information

- Voluntary contributions and optional extra payments: contributions are voluntary and there is no obligation to pay; the academy may cancel an activity if insufficient contributions are received. Remission (full or partial waiver) of charges for board and lodging on residential visits is available in full to parents in receipt of qualifying state benefits; the academy may also consider hardship cases. Parents may apply in confidence for remission. The academy sets charges in line with the Trust charging and remissions arrangements.

Fee payment options

- ParentPay (online card payments) is the primary, cashless method for payments for meals, trips, clubs and other chargeable items. ParentPay supports secure online card payments. Cash payments for ParentPay top-ups are possible at local stores displaying the PayPoint logo. These are the published payment routes used for billed items.

Academics

Curriculum

KS3 is three years in length and delivered through the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP). LAB provides the full range of National Curriculum subjects at KS3, including Language and Literature, Maths, Science, Language Acquisition (Spanish), Individuals and Societies (Geography, History and RE), the Arts (Art, Drama and Music), Design (DT and Computing) and Physical Education. A weekly LAB Learner programme supports IBMYP approaches to learning, and there is a 30-minute daily reading expectation monitored via Accelerated Reader. The KS4 curriculum is built on these IB-inspired principles, embedded at KS3, and aligns with the EBacc framework to widen opportunities in further education and employment. LAB16 offers Post-16 education with 20 Level 3 courses across the IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme, and includes an Oxbridge progression programme to support top university applications.

Exam Results

GCSE data for 2025 shows 88.1% of students entered the English Baccalaureate; 53% achieved grade 4 or above; 32% achieved grade 5 or above; 24.3% achieved grade 7+. English and Maths (combined) saw 79.1% achieve 4+ and 60.5% achieve 5+. The 2024 Attainment 8 score was 53.5. In 2024, EBacc entries were 92%; 53% achieved 4+; 33% achieved 5+; 17.5% achieved 7+. Post-16 results published for LAB16 show the inaugural IB results with 89% of grades at 4+ and a value-added score of 0.21.

Higher Education Progression

A dedicated Oxbridge progression programme supports LAB16 students seeking admission to top universities, with a broader university and apprenticeships pathway and a University & Apprenticeships resource area available within LAB16.

Wellbeing

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Parent Experience

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Facilities

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Extra-Curricular Activities

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Languages

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Reputation

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Admissions

1. The academy has a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 180 for entry into Year 7. Leigh Academies Trust is the Admissions Authority. Applications for places are made through the home Local Authority, in accordance with the Royal Borough of Greenwich co-ordinated admissions scheme and timetable. All applicants are invited to sit a fair banding test; the test is designed to ensure a fully comprehensive range of abilities and is not pass/fail; those not sitting the test are prioritised after those who have sat. The date of the test is published by the academy. 2. Post-16 admissions (LAB16) have a Sixth Form PAN of 125 places per year group (250 total). Internal applicants who meet the minimum academic entry criteria are admitted; external applicants may be admitted if places are available. If 125 or more Leigh Academy Blackheath students meet the admission criteria to enter Year 12, external applicants are not considered. 3. Oversubscription and priority: before oversubscription criteria are applied, Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children and students with a Statement of SEN or an EHCP naming LAB are admitted. After that, priority is given in this order: (1) siblings currently attending the academy; (2) acute medical or social needs; (3) child of a staff member; (4) distance from home. A tie-breaker is used if required. 4. Late applications: the academy follows the Royal Greenwich Local Authority policy for late applications. 5. Waiting lists and in-year admissions: a waiting list is maintained in all ability bands for the relevant year; the waiting list is ranked according to the published oversubscription criteria and is used when there are more applications than places. In-year admissions follow Greenwich arrangements. 6. Appeals: parents may appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel if a place is refused. 7. Open events and offers: an Open Event is held in the autumn term; applications are submitted to the academy by the required deadline; offers for LAB16 are conditional on meeting the grades required for enrolment; where grades are achieved, enrolment takes place after the relevant examination results.

Scholarships

16-19 Bursary Fund: The academy offers a 16-19 Bursary to help cover costs that can be barriers to participation in studies (e.g., travel, essential books, equipment, clothing) and may cover costs for work experience, university open days and interviews, or the UCAS application fee. Eligibility is based on: (a) Vulnerable Group Bursary criteria (e.g., being in care, receiving certain benefits, or specific disability-related allowances) or (b) Leigh Academy Blackheath's Discretionary Bursary criteria (e.g., household income below £25,000 or an EHCP). Applications must be completed and submitted (forms issued at enrolment or on request) by the stated deadline; evidence of income is required. Payments may be made as regular instalments or as reimbursements for costs. Payments may be withheld if attendance and behaviour expectations are not met. To continue receiving bursary payments, students must meet the set conditions (punctuality, minimum attendance, dress code, and timely completion of assignments). Changes in circumstances should be reported. For more information, contact LAB16@blackheath.latrust.org.uk. A copy of the 16-19 Bursary Policy is available on the academy's policies page.

Waitlist

Waiting list: the academy maintains a waiting list for the relevant academic year and this operates when there are more applications than places. The waiting list is managed by the Royal Borough of Greenwich admissions team until August 31 and transfers to the academy on 1 September; the waiting list continues to operate for the full academic year. Parents can request their child be placed on the waiting list after an unsuccessful application; applicants on the waiting list will undertake the fair banding test and be placed in an ability band. Waiting lists are ranked in line with the published oversubscription criteria, and no additional factors are considered. If a place becomes available, it is offered to the next eligible applicant in the appropriate band; if no suitable candidate exists in that band, the place may be offered to the next candidate in an adjacent band. To stay on the waiting list for the following academic year, a new application is required at the start of the year. Looked After Children and those allocated a place under the local authority's Fair Access Protocol take precedence.

School Events

The school has not added events

FAQs

Where is Leigh Academy Blackheath located and what age range does it serve?

Leigh Academy Blackheath is on Old Dover Road, Blackheath, London SE3 8SY, in the Blackheath Standard area of Greenwich. It serves students aged 11–18, with LAB16 the post-16 provision on the same campus. The school opened in 2018 and is part of Leigh Academies Trust.

What curriculum framework do students follow at KS3 and KS4?

At KS3, LAB delivers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP) across the National Curriculum subjects. KS4 builds on those IB-inspired principles and aligns with the EBacc framework to widen post-16 options. LAB16 offers the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme for sixth form.

Is Leigh Academy Blackheath a state-funded school?

Yes. Leigh Academy Blackheath is a state-funded free school and does not charge tuition for education provided during academy hours. Applications for Year 7 are made through the local authority common application process.

How do I apply for a Year 7 place at LAB?

Applications for Year 7 are processed through the Royal Greenwich local authority's coordinated admissions scheme, and LAB has a Published Admission Number of 180. All applicants sit a fair banding test as part of the process, which is designed to reflect a full range of abilities.

Are there any tuition fees or application charges?

There are no tuition fees for attending LAB as it is a state-funded school. There is no charge to apply for a place. Some costs may arise for optional trips, meals via ParentPay, or school items not covered by the curriculum.

Is there financial support for Sixth Form students?

Yes. LAB16 offers a 16–19 Bursary to help with costs such as travel, essential books, equipment, or UCAS-related expenses. Eligibility is based on either Vulnerable Group criteria or LAB's discretionary criteria, with required evidence and deadlines.

What GCSE/GCSE-equivalent outcomes can I expect for LAB students?

In 2025, 88.1% of LAB students entered the EBacc, with 53% achieving grade 4+ and 32% achieving 5+ in English and Maths combined 4+ and 5+ rates of 79.1% and 60.5% respectively. LAB's data shows strong EBacc participation, reflecting a broad,EBacc-aligned curriculum.

What does LAB16 offer for Sixth Form and university progression?

LAB16 provides 20 Level 3 courses across the IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme, including an Oxbridge progression programme to support applications to top universities. There is a university and apprenticeships resource area to help students plan next steps.

How does LAB support language learning and EAL students?

Spanish is taught as the Language Acquisition subject at KS3. Inclusive practices support learners who are learning English as an additional language, and EAL is recognised within SEND. Ab Initio entries are available for French, German and Spanish in the IB Diploma Programme.

What facilities does the campus include for science, IT and design?

The campus features science laboratories, design technology and ICT spaces, plus a library and dedicated learning spaces. There is also a fully fitted professional kitchen and dining area to support practical learning.

Are there performance spaces and sports facilities on site?

Yes. The main hall block includes music rooms, a drama studio and an assembly hall, and the campus houses a theatre and an activity studio. A dedicated sports hall and a MUGA provide space for a wide range of sports.

Is the campus accessible for students with mobility needs?

The campus includes lift access to all three floors, ensuring accessibility for students with mobility needs.

What clubs and activities are available after school?

There are Extra-Curricular Clubs and Societies, with after-school sports requiring LAB PE kit. The Arts programme supports music and drama, and there are opportunities for community service through the LAB Learner framework.

What leadership and wellbeing programs exist for students?

A Student Government is being established with tutor-group representatives, meeting weekly. LAB16 Wellbeing Ambassadors lead wellbeing initiatives and organize activities focused on student welfare and mental health.

What is LAB Learner and how does it support learning?

LAB Learner is an IBMYP-aligned program that develops metacognition, independent study, research skills and information literacy, while embedding community service and social responsibility into learning.

How does LAB support students with SEND and EAL?

The academy uses an Assess-Plan-Do-Review approach for SEND, covering four broad needs with a dedicated SENCo and a team of specialists. EAL is integrated through the language curriculum and inclusive practices across subjects, with access to external agencies when needed.

What mental health and safeguarding measures are in place?

PHSE, assemblies and targeted SEMH interventions support wellbeing. Safeguarding follows Keeping Children Safe in Education, with designated contacts and online-safety education; concerns can be raised with safeguarding staff or via the safeguarding email.

How are parents involved in wellbeing and safeguarding matters?

Parents can contact the safeguarding team through safeguarding@blackheath.latrust.org.uk, and there are safeguarding and welfare policies accessible through the academy. A safeguarding governor oversees policies in tandem with the Local Trust.

Does the school use a house system and what are the houses called?

Yes. The school uses a three-college system with houses named Sancho, Fawcett and Airy, each led by a Head of College and supported by pastoral and academic teams.

What is the uniform policy at LAB?

A full uniform is required, including a navy blazer with crest, navy jumper, grey trousers or a knee-length skirt, a white shirt, navy/grey socks, and a school tie. PE kit is required for PE lessons and should be brought to every PE class.

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