Nova Hreod Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST

Akers Way, Moredon, Swindon, SN2 2NQ

01793 528800 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 31 January 2017; confirmed 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths53%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 69% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,044Room for 1,200 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 789 in 2019, 874 in 2021, 898 in 2022, 985 in 2023, 1,037 in 2024, 1,059 in 2025, 1,044 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.7153 for 228 places, September 2026
14th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 14% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 31 January 2017.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 November 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

179 pupils in this year group.

53% — 9 points above the Swindon average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSwindonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 53% 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. 49.1 44 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.7 3.9 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 35%This school 2023/24: 41%This school 2024/25: 53% This school England 45% 2022/23 35% 2023/24 41% 2024/25 53%

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.

160 pupils in this year group.

90% — 2 points below the Swindon average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 11%21%53%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolSwindonEngland
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 11% 19% 34%
Sixth form college 21% 19% 13%
Further education college 53% 47% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 3% 3%
Work 3% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered228
Families who put it first153
Of those, offered a place153 (100%)
Families who listed it at all332

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Swindon

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSwindonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.9% 25.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
16th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.8% 3.6%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
15th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 22% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.0% 14.8%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.6% 19.8%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Lower than 10% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
11.8% 8.5%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Lower than 13% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
32.8% 23.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
104.2 34.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
19.1% 9.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded11 pupils 1.04% 0.26% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 67% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.6 17.1 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 8th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.4 11.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon.
Higher than 81% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
20.1% 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Nova Hreod Academy's Ofsted rating?

Nova Hreod Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 31 January 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 November 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Nova Hreod Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 53% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 7 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Nova Hreod Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 153 families put Nova Hreod Academy as their first choice for 228 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 153 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.