The Trafalgar School at Downton
Salisbury, SP5 3HN · Wiltshire · secondary school
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15th of 27 secondary schools in Wiltshire we can score, 28 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 640 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.5/10 among them, against 4.9/10 nationally. 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 | 44.6 · 49 | 30% | 1.47 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.02 · 49 | 25% | 1.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.7 · 48 | 10% | 0.48 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Trafalgar School at Downton overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023-09. In 2024/25, 45.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.02 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.3 out of 10 among them, against 5.0 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 808 pupils against a stated capacity of 630. 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
With the school operating significantly above its stated capacity, how does this affect current class sizes and individual attention? Since the Progress 8 score is below 0, what specific support is in place to help pupils improve their progress? How does the school manage the high number of pupils relative to its infrastructure?
What Ofsted said about The Trafalgar School at Downton
Overview
The inspection describes The Trafalgar School at Downton as a "truly a community school" where "honest and just leadership" drives improvement. Leaders have successfully improved curriculum provision, ensuring pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, learn well within a calm and purposeful environment.
Strengths
- Leaders prioritise a "broad and balanced learning experience" and have established "agreed approaches to teaching" that teachers follow consistently.
- Pupils are "attentive and conduct themselves well," contributing to a positive atmosphere where they "feel safe" and bullying is rarely an issue.
- Reading is "appropriately prioritised," with targeted interventions helping pupils who start behind to "reintegrate fully into their year group’s learning."
- The curriculum supports social and emotional development through "extensive extra-curricular opportunities" and impartial careers advice.
- Staff are "very well placed to identify pupils’ needs" and provide targeted support, underpinned by a "strong safeguarding culture."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should strengthen curriculum implementation so pupils "deepen their understanding of key concepts" rather than learning to a "superficial level."
- Teachers should allow pupils to "explore ideas in different ways and across subjects" to apply learning in multi-disciplinary ways.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," noting that leaders have secured a "strong safeguarding culture" with processes "highly tailored to the local context."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.6 |
| 2024/25 | 44.3 |
| 2025/26 | 45.7 |
| 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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