The Dean Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of THE ATHELSTAN TRUST

Church Road, Lydney, GL15 5DZ

01594 843202 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card4 expected, 2 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 27 January 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%England 45% · 2024/25
38th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 22% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils816Room for 1,095 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 609 in 2019, 550 in 2021, 543 in 2022, 604 in 2023, 690 in 2024, 734 in 2025, 816 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0162 for 165 places, September 2026
21st highest of 40 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 57% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 27 January 2026 , published 23 March 2026.

In short: 4 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

102 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Gloucestershire comparisons use the 6 of its 41 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 35 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.

StatementThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
My child is happy at this school
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 40% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
75% 88% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 33% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
76% 90% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 32% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
65% 87% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 36 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 48% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
44% 50% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 94 parents who had raised a concern
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 43% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 80% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 32 parents of children with SEND
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 41% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
53% 66% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 41% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78%said yes 90% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Gloucestershire figures pool parents at the Gloucestershire 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

90 pupils in this year group.

32% — 21 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 13 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 32% 53% 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. 43.1 50.3 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.8 4.4 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 34%This school 2023/24: 29%This school 2024/25: 32% This school England 45% 2022/23 34% 2023/24 29% 2024/25 32%

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.

108 pupils in this year group.

89% — 4 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 3 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 17%54%11%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 89% 93% 92%
School sixth form 17% 46% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 11% 13%
Further education college 54% 26% 37%
Apprenticeship 11% 4% 3%
Work 7% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
88%89%

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 Gloucestershire. 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 offered165
Families who put it first162
Of those, offered a place161 (99%)
Families who listed it at all219

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Gloucestershire

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 10 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
7th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
32.3% 19.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.5% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
24th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 35% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.8% 12.7%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 26th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 18% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.2% 9.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
22nd lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 50% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.3% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
24th lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 43% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
24.9% 21.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
29th lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
21.4 18.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
23rd lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.8% 6.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.27% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
7th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 76% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.1 17.0 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
31st highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.2 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 7th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 62% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
15.6% 11.3%* 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is The Dean Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Dean Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 27 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did The Dean Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 13 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend The Dean Academy?

78% of the 102 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Dean Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Dean Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 162 families put The Dean Academy as their first choice for 165 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 161 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.