The Westgate School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE WESTGATE SCHOOL

Cippenham Lane, Slough, SL1 5AH

01753 521320 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 14 January 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths35%England 45% · 2024/25
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 27% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,273Room for 1,400 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,081 in 2019, 1,219 in 2021, 1,284 in 2022, 1,338 in 2023, 1,326 in 2024, 1,284 in 2025, 1,273 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.7144 for 215 places, September 2026
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 13% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 14 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

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
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

167 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Slough comparisons use the 8 of its 16 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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 schoolSloughEngland
My child is happy at this school
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 1% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
27% 80% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 2% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
40% 84% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 3% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
32% 79% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 95 parents whose child had been bullied
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 4% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
24% 46% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 155 parents who had raised a concern
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 2% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
21% 64% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 64 parents of children with SEND
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 1% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
17% 33% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 1% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
17%said yes 76% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 13%). 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. Slough figures pool parents at the Slough 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.

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Results

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

229 pupils in this year group.

35% — 23 points below the Slough average, and 11 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 35% 58% 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. 40.6 53.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.3 4.8 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: 36%This school 2023/24: 47%This school 2024/25: 35% This school England 45% 2022/23 36% 2023/24 47% 2024/25 35%

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.

231 pupils in this year group.

96% — 4 points above the Slough average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 96% 92% 92%
School sixth form 29% 57% 34%
Sixth form college 7% 2% 13%
Further education college 59% 29% 37%
Apprenticeship Not published 1% 3%
Work 1% 1% 3%

"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%96%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

61 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Average A level grade C- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 9% 32% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 30% 56% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 28.1 34.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 27.4This school 2023/24: 29.3This school 2024/25: 28.1 This school England 35 2022/23 27.4 2023/24 29.3 2024/25 28.1

A level subjects, 2024/25

15 subjects, 167 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 38 0% 0% 19%
Mathematics 31 0% 6% 40%
Biology 22 0% 9% 27%
Sociology 18 0% 11% 20%
Chemistry 16 6% 6% 30%
History 9 0% 0% 23%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 8 0% 13% 14%
English Literature 7 0% 14% 23%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), Urdu, Polish, Religious Studies, Mathematics (Further), Punjabi, Spanish.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

77 students in this year group.

88% — 6 points above the Slough average, and 9 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 88% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 4% 5% 7%
Work 14% 26% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
88%88%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

84 students in this year group.

75% — 3 points above the Slough average, and 15 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 75% 72% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 7% 22% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
77%75%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 Slough. 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 offered215
Families who put it first144
Of those, offered a place144 (100%)
Families who listed it at all464

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 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 Slough

Pupils, staff and SEND

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

PupilsThis schoolSloughEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
25.4% 22.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.0% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
12th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 14% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.4% 9.0%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
29.8% 43.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 24% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.0% 7.2%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
14th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 17% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
30.8% 20.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
56.9 11.7 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
19.0% 5.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded8 pupils 0.62% 0.16% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
15th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 9% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.3 16.8 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 15th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.1 12.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 100% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
46.6% 20.3%* 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 Westgate School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 14 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did The Westgate School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 11 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend The Westgate School?

17% of the 167 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Westgate School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Westgate School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 144 families put The Westgate School as their first choice for 215 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 144 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.