SchoolScoresKingsdown School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of RIVER LEARNING TRUST
Hyde Rd, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, SN2 7SH
01793 822284 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 28 January 2020.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
216 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Swindon comparisons use the 6 of its 16 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 14% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 70% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 77% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 28% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 64% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 104 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 29% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 42% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 172 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 16% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 54% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 86 parents of children with SEND Higher than 16% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 17% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60%said yes | 63% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 21%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Swindon figures pool parents at the Swindon schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
154 pupils in this year group.
37% — 6 points below the Swindon average, and 8 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 37% | 43% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 41.4 | 44 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
167 pupils in this year group.
90% — 2 points below the Swindon average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 90% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 3% | 19% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 30% | 19% | 13% |
| Further education college | 49% | 47% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 5% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 90% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Swindon. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 232 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 237 |
| Of those, offered a place | 216 (91%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 393 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 15 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 28.3% | 25.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 3.6%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 14.8%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 14th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 37% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 19.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.4% | 8.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 36% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 26.3% | 23.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 24.4 | 34.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 32% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.1% | 9.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.10% | 0.26% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 73% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.9 | 17.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 73% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 17.9% | 13.0%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Swindon Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 5 expected · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Joseph's Catholic College 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 28% grade 5+ English and maths
- Maranatha Christian School 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 0% A*/A at A level
- Nova Hreod Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Dorcan Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lawn Manor Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- UTC Swindon 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Abbey Park School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Great Western Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Kingsdown School's Ofsted rating?
Kingsdown School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 January 2020. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Kingsdown School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 37% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 8 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Kingsdown School?
60% of the 216 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Kingsdown School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Kingsdown School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 237 families put Kingsdown School as their first choice for 232 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 216 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 145139.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.