Leigh Academy Minster is a mixed secondary school and sixth form (ages 11âÂÂ18) located in Minster-onâÂÂSea, Kent, England. Opened 1 September 2024, it replaced Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey and is sponsored by the Leigh Academies Trust.
Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey, established 2009, was rated *inadequate* across all Ofsted categories in June 2022 due to bullying, discriminatory language, attendance below 50%, and unsafe social media behaviors; Sixth Form was rated *requires improvement*. Extended monitoring and teacher strikes followed.
In April 2023, the Department for Education selected Leigh Academies Trust and EKC Schools Trust to replace Oasis with two schools:
Existing Y10âÂÂ11 and Y13 students remained on site to avoid disruption.
Leigh Academy Minster opened 1 September 2024. Mathieu StevensâÂÂformerly of Leigh Academy Dartford and Halley AcademyâÂÂwas appointed Principal designate in November 2023 and took leadership on opening day. Gordon Henderson MP became Chair of Governors.
In March 2025, Leigh Academy Minster underwent a three-day Challenge Partners review, receiving a top accreditation as an Area of Excellence for its Small School College model. Leadership was judged "Leading" and provision "Effective."
The academy has a YearÃÂ 7 intake of 180. In 2024, it was 123% oversubscribed; Kent County Council approved a bulge of 30 places for 2025. By 2025, LAM received 222 first-preference applications, double the 180 places. Sixth Form provides 250 places.
Entry to Cody College follows selective criteria; Sixth Form requires at least five GCSEs gradeâ¯5+, including English and Maths, with a gradeâ¯6+ requirement for science/maths AâÂÂlevels.
Leigh Academy Minster operates a "small school" college model:
Each college serves ~350 students (250 in Sixth Form) with their own leadership.
Key Stageâ¯3 is taught via the IB Middle Years Programme; Key Stagesâ¯4âÂÂ5 offer GCSEs, AâÂÂlevels, BTECs, and the IB Career-related Programme. The academy issues 1:1 Chromebooks to all students for school and home use.
The former Oasis site was redeveloped: new library, updated classrooms, sports facilities. A two-storey SEND building (Snowfields Unit), funded with ã2.5â¯m from KCC, opens in Septemberâ¯2025 for up to 60 EHCP students.
LAM follows "The Minster Way," a "warm strict" regime: high expectations, firm boundaries, punctuality, zero tolerance of bullying, no make-up, and strict uniform. Behaviour has improved dramaticallyâÂÂsupported by new library (initial stock 3,000 books), consistent detention policies, and college-based pastoral support. Staff and students report positive culture change.
The designated safeguarding teamâÂÂled by Mr Mortley, Mr Stevens, Mr Spocchia, and othersâÂÂensures robust child protection procedures, ongoing training, assemblies on online safety, and anti-bullying.
Though too new for inspection, the academy benefits from its sponsor's record: Leigh Academies Trust (31 schools) oversees institutions with strong academic outcomes. For example, Leigh Academy MilestoneâÂÂa special schoolâÂÂearned its fourth consecutive *outstanding* rating in June 2025, celebrating transformative care and strong leadership.
As of 2025, Leigh Academy Minster has not yet published full public examination results, with its first GCSE cohort expected to complete Key Stageâ¯4 in summer 2026, and its first full Sixth Form A-level or IB Career-related Programme results anticipated in 2028.
In the interim, the academy has received external validation. In March 2025, a Challenge Partners national review team rated the school's collegiate model an "Area of Excellence" and leadership "Leading," praising the school's early culture and progress monitoring systems.
Leigh Academy Minster is part of the Leigh Academies Trust, which has a strong track record in public examinations:
The first official Progress 8, Attainment 8, and EBacc entry and attainment figures for Leigh Academy Minster are expected in 2026, when the Department for Education publishes performance tables for new schools.