Classpot

Kingsdown School

Swindon, SN2 7SHSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2025
Progress 8
-0.36
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
206 1st-choice / 232 places
Ranking
#2,355
of 3,141 nationally

About Kingsdown School

Just over 60% of parents who responded to Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend Kingsdown School, a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Swindon. That figure comes from 216 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, and it sits alongside some notably mixed individual scores. For instance, 65% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 75% felt their child is safe. However, only 41% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and just 42% felt the school gives SEND children the support they need. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 338 families applied for 232 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.46. Of those, 206 first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while demand is solid, a significant number of families who put Kingsdown first did get in.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressHyde Rd, Swindon, Swindon, SN2 7SH
HeadteacherEmma Leigh-Bennett
Local AuthoritySwindon
Number of Pupils1,029
Free School Meals (FSM)27.0%
School Capacity1,029 / 1,260 (82% full)

The full report on this school

What 216 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

19 Mar 2025
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (19 Mar 2025): Standards maintained

Source: Ofsted, 24 Feb 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Swimming PoolAstro TurfDining HallSports HallGymnasiumScience LabsArt StudiosLibrary

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RugbyBasketballRowingCross CountryGymnasticsMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

Duke of EdinburghChoirEco ClubDramaArt ClubDebateFilm ClubOrchestraModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Kingsdown School

Kingsdown School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.