Kingsdown School
82%
Capacity
1,029
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
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.
Academically, Kingsdown's most recent Progress 8 score was -0.36, which is below the national average and places the school 11th out of 13 similar schools in Swindon. That score is also notably lower than the local authority average of -0.06. The Attainment 8 figure sits at 41.6, and 60.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though the figure drops to 37.6% when looking at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.74, with 37% of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects. In its most recent graded inspection in 2020, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. A subsequent ungraded inspection in March 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained. This is a clear improvement from the school's previous graded inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
Kingsdown has a range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, gymnasium, science labs, art studios, and a library. Sports on offer include rugby, basketball, rowing, cross country, gymnastics, and martial arts, while clubs range from DofE and Model UN to choir, orchestra, drama, and eco club. The school reports SEND provision for a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health, speech language and communication, hearing and visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 27% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage. Kingsdown is a secondary-only school with no sixth form, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. It may suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and a school that has improved its Ofsted rating, but who are comfortable with below-average Progress 8 outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hyde Rd, Swindon, Swindon, SN2 7SH |
| Headteacher | Emma Leigh-Bennett |
| Local Authority | Swindon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,029 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,029 / 1,260 (82% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (19 Mar 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 24 Feb 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.36)
2355th of 3,141
Nationally
250th of 306
In South West
11th of 13
In Swindon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
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
2022/238%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 200 pupils).
- FE college53%
- Sixth form college19%
- Not sustained9%
- School sixth form (stay)8%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment4%
89% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
216 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
2025/26Oversubscribed232
338
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
206 families put this school as their 1st choice (61% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British81.3%
- Mixed5.2%
- Asian4.4%
- White (other)4.0%
- Black0.1%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kingsdown 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
Hyde Rd, Swindon
Swindon, SN2 7SH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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