GCSE 2025/26
#1,497 of 3,312
Similar to most schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
A-level 2024/25
#1,622 of 2,536
Worse than 63% of schools in England
Ranked by average points per A-level entry.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 10 Jan 2023
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 145883.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 46.8, similar to England | - | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 66.9%, similar to England | - | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 47%, similar to England | - | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 13.2%, similar to England | - | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 59.6%, similar to England | - | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 151 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.
| Measure | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10. | 31.42, worse than England | - | 35 |
| Average A-level grade | C | - | - |
| Average points, best three A-levels | 33.33, worse than England | - | 35.78 |
| Average grade, best three A-levels | C+ | - | - |
| AAB or better | 12.3%, worse than England | - | 17.5% |
| A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average. | -0.22, worse than England | - | - |
| A-level progress | Below average, worse than England | - | - |
| Students at the end of 16 to 18 study | 94 | - | - |
| Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs. | Merit+ | - | - |
Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.
Pupils at the January school census. School places come from the DfE capacity survey and do not include nursery, so unfilled places compare them with pupils outside nursery.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils | 1,039 |
| Girls | 505 |
| Boys | 534 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 15.3% |
| First language not English | 11.9% |
| School places2024/25 | 1,210 |
| Unfilled places | 14.1% |
| Sixth form places2024/25 | 460 |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 117 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 37 |
| Average class size | 21.8 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 15 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 11.3 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 69.29 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 11.47 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 35.94 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 71.5 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 60.5 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 6 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 5 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 180 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 524 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 162 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 155 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 10 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 6.6%, better than England | - | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 17%, better than England | - | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 2.4%, better than England | - | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 17.8% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 7.4% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.1% |
| Permanent exclusions | 1 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 95.4% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 92.7% |
| School sixth form | 43% |
| Further education | 28.5% |
| Sixth form college | 21.2% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 2.6% |
| Employment | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 0.7% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 84.5% |
| Higher education | 58.6% |
| Employment | 17.2% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 10.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.2% |
| Further education | 3.4% |
Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 mi | Primary | William Morris Primary School | Free schools | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 22 Nov 2023. | |
| 0.7 mi | Primary | Abbey Farm Educate Together Primary | Free schools | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 20 May 2025. | |
| 0.7 mi | Primary | Tadpole Farm CofE Primary Academy | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 30 Jan 2024. | |
| 0.7 mi | Secondary | Abbey Park School | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 17 Jan 2023. | |
| 0.8 mi | Primary | Red Oaks Primary School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 7 Nov 2013. | |
| 0.9 mi | Primary | Bridlewood Primary School | Academy converter | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 18 Nov 2025. | |
| 1.0 mi | Primary | Oakhurst Community Primary School | Academy converter | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 16 Jun 2026. | |
| 1.2 mi | Primary | Orchid Vale Primary School | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 12 Sept 2023. | |
| 1.4 mi | Primary | Abbey Meads Community Primary School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 16 May 2023. | |
| 1.5 mi | Primary | St Francis CofE Primary School | Voluntary aided school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 19 Mar 2024. |
Great Western Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 10 Jan 2023.
Great Western Academy ranks 1,497 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 1,622 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 63% of schools).
In 2025/26, 47% of pupils at Great Western Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 46.8 (England 46.2).
In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Great Western Academy was C, and 12.3% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Great Western Academy made 180 offers from 524 applications (2.9 per offer), and 155 of 162 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Great Western Academy has 1,039 pupils aged 11 to 18.
Great Western Academy had 1,210 school places in 2024/25.
Yes, Great Western Academy has a sixth form with 460 places in 2024/25.
At Great Western Academy, the average class had 21.8 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Great Western Academy missed 6.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 17% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.