Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #15 in Hounslow public Top 21% UK

Bolder Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Heidi Swidenbank

corporate_fareBOLDER ACADEMY TRUST

location_onIsleworth, TW7 5DB

language Visit Website phone 2039630806

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Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

844

trending_up

Attainment 8

45.6

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GCSE Rank

#15 in Hounslow

#1,628 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Bolder Academy is a Free schools secondary school in Isleworth, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Bolder Academy is a free schools in Isleworth, Hounslow, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BOLDER ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 955 pupils on roll, of whom 32% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.6, placing the school #15 in Hounslow and #1,628 of 3,216 nationally. 40.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 19.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 15 A-level subjects. 60.9% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 21.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.05 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

45.6

Grade 5+ E&M

40.80%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)19.4%

Entering EBacc45.00%

EBacc APS4.25

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.36

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46.10%

EBacc APS4.53

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.30

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc65%

EBacc APS4.83

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.05

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.7%

Achieving A*–A21.8%

Achieving A*–B60.9%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered15

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 December 2022

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2022-12-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.0%(19 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 955 pupils. During this period, there were 27 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.8%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	955	27	2.8%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	960	15	1.6%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	917	47	5.1%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	919	42	4.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	925	55	5.9%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	854	85	10.0%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	844	117	13.9%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	847	68	8.0%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	671	62	9.2%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	684	26	3.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	688	30	4.4%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	502	14	2.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	500	3	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	500	21	4.2%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	328	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	328	3	0.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	331	15	4.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	150	3	2.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	150	4	2.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	150	6	4.0%	3.8%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 29 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 28 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 23 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 23 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 10 pupils

Physical Disability 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

77.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

83.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree42%

agree33%

disagree18%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree28%

agree42%

disagree19%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree31%

agree25%

disagree10%

strongly disagree16%

don't know2%

not applicable16%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes20%

no80%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree44%

agree20%

disagree20%

strongly disagree16%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree36%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree5%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree38%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree31%

agree36%

disagree22%

strongly disagree6%

don't know5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree42%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree37%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree39%

agree36%

disagree8%

strongly disagree11%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes75%

no25%

Top Secondary Schools in Hounslow

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Gunnersbury Catholic School

Outstanding

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St Mark's Catholic School

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Reach Academy Feltham

Outstanding

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Gumley House RC Convent School, FCJ

Good

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Rivers Academy West London

Good

location_on Feltham, TW14 9PE

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View all schools in Hounslow arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Hounslow

Gunnersbury Catholic School

St Mark's Catholic School

Nishkam School West London

Reach Academy Feltham

Gumley House RC Convent School, FCJ

Rivers Academy West London