Bradon Forest School
74%
Capacity
931
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Bradon Forest School
Bradon Forest School’s Progress 8 score of -0.08 places it slightly below the Wiltshire local authority average of -0.01 for secondary schools, meaning pupils here make marginally less academic progress between Key Stage 2 and GCSE than their peers across the county. That said, the school sits in the middle of the pack locally, ranking 16th out of 26 Wiltshire secondaries on this measure, and nationally it falls within the ‘Average’ banding. The picture is more mixed when you look at individual subjects: maths stands out with a positive Progress 8 score of +0.24, suggesting strong gains in that area, while English (-0.16) and the EBacc subjects (-0.21) lag behind. With 18.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a slightly higher-than-average proportion of disadvantaged students, which may partly explain the overall dip compared to the LA norm.
On academic outcomes, Bradon Forest’s Attainment 8 score of 46 is solid for a non-selective state school, and 49.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths (the basics 5 measure), which is a respectable benchmark. The EBacc entry rate sits at 31.9%, with 14.6% of pupils achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2023 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This was a repeat of its previous Good rating from 2016, so there’s consistency in the school’s performance. The Progress 8 confidence interval ranges from -0.29 to 0.12, which means the true figure could be closer to the LA average, and the school’s ranking in the South West region (169th out of 306) reinforces its position as a broadly average performer.
Bradon Forest is a non-selective, mixed 11-16 school with no sixth form, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. It is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 431 applications for 198 places, with 155 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.18. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, and art studios, and runs clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, drama, choir, and eco club. Its SEND provisions cover nine categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, making it a practical choice for families whose children need additional support. This is a solid, well-regarded local comprehensive that suits families looking for a stable, Good-rated school with decent facilities and a strong maths department, but it’s worth noting the overall progress is slightly below the Wiltshire average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | The Peak, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 4AT |
| Headteacher | Sarah Haines |
| Local Authority | Wiltshire |
| Number of Pupils | 931 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.2% |
| School Capacity | 931 / 1,260 (74% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 15 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1738th of 3,141
Nationally
169th of 306
In South West
16th of 26
In Wiltshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/236%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 199 pupils).
- Sixth form college59%
- FE college25%
- School sixth form (stay)6%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship3%
95% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed198
431
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
155 families put this school as their 1st choice (36% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British76.7%
- White (other)5.8%
- Mixed5.8%
- Asian3.8%
- Black0.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bradon Forest School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
The Peak, Swindon
Wiltshire, SN5 4AT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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