UTC · Dartford, Kent
The Leigh UTC
Engineering · Computer science
Part of the England-wide UTC network overseen by the Baker Dearing Educational Trust. All figures below are a point-in-time snapshot (Data gathered and cross-checked in July 2026) — how this was gathered.
At a glance
Official name
The Leigh UTC
Location
Dartford, Kent
University partner
University of Greenwich
Technical specialisms
Engineering Computer science
Age range
11 to 19
Roll (pupils on site)
689 (June 2026, Ofsted)
Capacity
960 places
Opened
2014
URN
140987
Academy trust
Leigh Academies Trust
Ofsted
Ofsted: Exceptional (June 2026)
Website
Employer partners
- Eurostar
- BAE Systems
- Kennard Engineering
- Beck & Pollitzer
- Bluewater
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Notable
- Built on the Bridge development in Dartford, on the site of the former Joyce Green Hospital.
- Its June 2026 inspection — under Ofsted's newer report-card framework — rated Leadership & Governance and Post-16 Provision as 'Exceptional', the top available grade, with every other area ('Achievement', 'Attendance and behaviour', 'Curriculum and teaching', 'Inclusion', 'Personal development and wellbeing') rated 'Strong standard'; safeguarding was confirmed as met.
- Governance includes a dedicated 'employer advisory board' that inspectors specifically credited with keeping the curriculum aligned to industry needs, feeding into partners like Eurostar and BAE Systems.
- Although it opened as a 14-19 UTC in 2014, it has since extended down to Year 7 (age 11) via a merged 'Inspiration Academy' pathway, taking it well beyond the standard UTC age range.