Kingsdown School
Swindon, SN2 7SH · Swindon · secondary school
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11th of 14 secondary schools in Swindon we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 3.4/10 against 815 of them, against 3.1/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 40.2 · 38 | 30% | 1.14 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.36 · 23 | 25% | 0.58 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.9 · 28 | 10% | 0.28 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kingsdown School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.36 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.8 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,108 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,260. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the after-school club integrate with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme?
What Ofsted said about Kingsdown School
Overview
Kingsdown School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. Pupils feel welcome, included, and safe, with a strong sense of pride and belonging fostered by the school’s values and peer support systems. The school provides an ambitious curriculum and inclusive opportunities for personal development, though some aspects of teaching and attendance require further refinement.
Strengths
- Pupils behave well and strive to meet high expectations, demonstrating the school’s ‘BEATs’ values with pride.
- Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and typically introduce new content clearly, with work well matched to the ambitious curriculum.
- High-quality advice and training enable staff to provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- The guided reading programme successfully builds pupils’ love of reading, with prompt identification and support for those falling behind.
- Leaders have significantly improved attendance and behaviour while being mindful of staff workload, and pupils are well prepared for life beyond school.
Areas to improve
- The quality of teachers’ explanations and teaching activities is not consistently strong, preventing some pupils from learning as well as they could across all curriculum areas.
- The attendance of some pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils remains too low, hindering their achievement and personal development.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.6 |
| 2024/25 | 41.4 |
| 2025/26 | 41.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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