Great Western Academy

A good free schools school in Swindon. Explore Ofsted ratings, admissions information, and performance data for Great Western Academy.

Swindon, SN252PP Ofsted: Good Age 11-18 Mixed intake
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Performance Score

Overall school rating

57

/ 100

Secondary with Sixth Form weighted harmonic mean of 5 indicators

Indicators used for Secondary with Sixth Form schools

Progress 8 score
56.9
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 0.12
English & Maths grade 4+ %
61.0
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 72.2%
Continue in education or training
57.2
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 63.0%
Sustained employment
42.7
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 19.0%
Ofsted inspection outcome
75.0
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: Good

How we weight each phase

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Primary schools

  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 40.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Secondary schools

  • Progress 8 score 40.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

All-through schools

  • Progress 8 score 25.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 15.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Secondary with Sixth Form schools

  • Progress 8 score 20.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • Continue in education or training 20.0%
  • Sustained employment 20.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Sixth Form Only schools

  • Continue in education or training 40.0%
  • Sustained employment 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Special schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Alternative Provision schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Independent schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Ofsted Inspection

Official inspection outcomes

Good
Overall effectiveness
Good
Last inspected
10 January 2023
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour & attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership & management
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

Source: Ofsted inspection outcomes. Grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate.

Contact Information

How to reach this school

Source: GIAS
Address
William Morris Way
Tadpole Garden Village
Swindon, SN252PP
Phone
1793209700
Website
gwacademy.co.uk

Location

Find the school on the map

Source: Geocoding
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School Information

Basic details and characteristics

Source: GIAS
URN
145883
Type
Free schools
Phase
Secondary with Sixth Form
Address
William Morris Way, Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon, SN25 2PP
Website
www.gwacademy.co.uk
Age range
11-18
Gender
Mixed
School status
Open
Trust/MAT
GREAT WESTERN ACADEMY LIMITED
Capacity
1210 pupils
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Sixth Form
Yes
Nursery
No

School Performance Data

Official government statistics

Source: DfE

School Demographics

Total Pupils
952
Free School Meals
14.0% (133 pupils)
Special Educational Needs
3.6% (34 pupils)

Daily Attendance

Attendance Rate
92.4%
Good
Persistent Absence
20.2%
Missing 10%+ of school days

Detailed Performance Metrics

Attainment 8 Scores
Attainment 8:
47.7
Ebacc Attainment 8:
14.3
English Attainment 8:
10.1
Maths Attainment 8:
9.7
Open Subjects Attainment 8:
13.7
EBacc Subject Performance
Ebacc Attainment 8:
14.3
Ebacc English:
98.0%
Ebacc Entry:
28.5%
Ebacc Humanities:
82.1%
Ebacc Languages:
52.3%
Ebacc Maths:
98.0%
Ebacc Sciences:
97.4%
Progress Measures
Progress 8:
0.12
Progress 8 Range:
-0.11 to 0.35
University Progression:
59.0%

Real Success Rates

What happens to students after they leave this school

Continue Education
63.0%
University, college, or sixth form
Enter Employment
19.0%
Full or part-time jobs
Start Apprenticeships
6.0%
Learning while earning
Not in Education or Work
9.0%
NEET - needs support

Sixth Form University Progression

Where sixth form students go after graduation

University Progression
59%
Quality: Good
Sixth Form Size
32 students
Per cohort
Apprenticeships
6.0%

Key Performance Indicators

English & Maths Grade 5+:
72.2 (+20.2 vs average)
Attainment 8:
47.7 (+8.2 vs average)
Progress 8:
0.12 (+0.3 vs average)

Calculated Fields

Derived insights and analysis

Source: Calculated

Class Size Information

Average Class Size
60 pupils
Large Classes
Pupils per Year Group
119
Average across all year groups
Total School Size
952 pupils
11-18

Subjects This School Excels At

Subjects where students perform significantly above national average

Mathematical Studies (Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3)
★★★★ ★
(7 students)
Mathematics (GCE A level)
★★★★ ★
(11 students)
Physics (GCE A level)
★★★ ★★
(6 students)
English Literature (GCE A level)
★★★ ★★
(7 students)
Economics (GCE A level)
★★★ ★★
(7 students)

Strong performance in 5 subjects

From the School Website

Information extracted from the school's own website

Source: School Website

Ethos & Values

"work hard and be kind"

Achievement Care Excellence

Head Teacher's Message

David Clarke, Principal, describes ACE values (Achievement, Care and Excellence) at the heart of the Academy and emphasizes progress, enrichment, and creating a nurturing, aspirational environment aimed at preparing students for successful lives beyond school.

Curriculum Highlights

ACE values (Achievement, Care & Excellence) underpinning the curriculum Extended curriculum and enrichment opportunities Daily reading time for all students with Accelerated Reader and Bedrock Vocabulary Enterprise skills development and the ‘Successful Lives’ programme Laptops/personal ICT for students and use of ICT to support learning Progress tracking via electronic systems (Student Portal and MCAS)

SEND Provision

GWA's Pupil Premium strategy is reviewed annually in July and the Pupil Premium Intent and Implementation Plan is published in the autumn term of each academic year. The school describes allocating pupil premium funding to support a variety of strategies in class and in a wider context to promote social inclusion and accelerate learning, including trips, instrument lessons, learning mentors and other support services designed to help disadvantaged learners.

Admissions Criteria

Looked after children and previously looked after children (including those who appear to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of adoption); children of staff employed by Great Western Academy on a permanent, minimum 40% FTE contract for two or more years or recruited to fill a post with a skill shortage; any child with a sibling at Great Western Academy; other children.

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