Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #8 in Swindon public Top 23% UK

Great Western Academy

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

personMr Graham Davis

corporate_fareGREAT WESTERN ACADEMY LIMITED

location_onSwindon, SN25 2PP

language Visit Website phone 1793209700

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

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Students

878

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Attainment 8

45.5

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GCSE Rank

#9 in Swindon

#1,641 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Great Western Academy is a Free schools secondary school in Swindon, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Great Western Academy is a free schools in Swindon, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of GREAT WESTERN ACADEMY LIMITED. The school has approximately 1,025 pupils on roll, of whom 16% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.5, placing the school #9 in Swindon and #1,641 of 3,216 nationally. 41.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 13.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 27 A-level subjects. 41.7% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 15.7% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.22 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 6.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

45.5

Grade 5+ E&M

41.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)13.5%

Entering EBacc40.00%

EBacc APS4.09

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39.70%

EBacc APS4.3

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc48%

EBacc APS4.23

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

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

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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

-0.22

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.9%

Achieving A*–A15.7%

Achieving A*–B41.7%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate91.6%

A-level subjects offered27

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.06

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate87.30%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate92.60%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate90.9%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 January 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2023-01-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

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

5.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.0%(41 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,025 pupils. During this period, there were 58 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.7%, 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)	1,025	58	5.7%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,037	78	7.5%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	949	69	7.3%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	952	27	2.8%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	955	32	3.4%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	880	26	3.0%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	878	25	2.8%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	883	21	2.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	703	16	2.3%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	709	16	2.3%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	714	12	1.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	557	12	2.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	555	1	0.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	555	17	3.1%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	369	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	369	4	1.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	371	4	1.1%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	151	2	1.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	153	1	0.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	155	0	0.0%	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 45 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 34 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 22 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 17 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 16 pupils

Hearing Impairment 8 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 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.

87.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

89.0%Positive

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

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree55%

agree31%

disagree10%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree42%

agree40%

disagree14%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree34%

agree22%

disagree12%

strongly disagree7%

not applicable24%

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 agree17%

agree33%

disagree22%

strongly disagree26%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree63%

agree32%

disagree2%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree40%

disagree8%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree51%

agree41%

disagree6%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree61%

agree37%

disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree73%

agree23%

disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree48%

agree34%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes86%

no14%

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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 Swindon

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College

Swindon Academy

Nova Hreod Academy

Lydiard Park Academy

The Deanery CofE Academy

Abbey Park School