Uplands School

Special academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of BRUNEL ACADEMIES TRUST

The Learning Campus, Tadpole Lane, Swindon, SN25 2NB

01793 493910 · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 2 July 2024
Pupils172Room for 173 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 130 in 2019, 140 in 2021, 147 in 2022, 155 in 2023, 171 in 2024, 170 in 2025, 172 in 2026. Across England, special state school pupil numbers were up 39% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals47%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 2 July 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 educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school 95% 89%
My child feels safe at this school 95% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 86% 84%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern 95% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent 90%said yes 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. 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

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.

20 pupils in this year group.

95% — 3 points above the Swindon average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSwindonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 95% 92% 92%
School sixth form 0% 19% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 19% 13%
Further education college 0% 47% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% 3% 3%
Work 0% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
100%95%

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Swindon

Pupils, staff and SEND

This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Severe learning difficulties.

PupilsThis schoolSwindonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 44.4% 47.0%* 51.9%
With an education, health and care plan 99.4% 98.8%* 99.5%
Receiving special educational needs support 0.0% 1.1%* 0.5%
English as an additional language 22.9% 13.2%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 10.6% 12.0%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 28.9% 33.8%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 0.0 0.9 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 0.0% 0.7% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.00% 0.08%
Pupils per teacher 7.9 7.1 6.6
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1.6 2.2 2.3
Teachers who left during the year 12.8% 18.8%* 14.3%*

Comparisons are with special schools. * 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 special schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Uplands School's Ofsted rating?

Uplands School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 July 2024.

Would parents recommend Uplands School?

90% of the 21 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Uplands School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Sources

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

Page updated 26 September 2026.