Lawn Manor Academy
94%
Capacity
940
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Lawn Manor Academy
Lawn Manor Academy is a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Swindon that currently educates 940 pupils against a capacity of 1,000, leaving a small buffer of 60 places. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 39.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average for secondary schools. Demand for places is strong, with 346 applications for 200 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.73. Of those applicants, 156 put the school as their first preference, and all of those first-preference families were offered a place. The school has no religious character and no sixth form, so pupils move on elsewhere after Year 11. Headteacher Sandra Muir leads a school that has seen a clear improvement in its Ofsted rating since the previous inspection.
Academically, Lawn Manor Academy sits in the middle of the pack. Its Progress 8 score of -0.03 is classed as 'Average' nationally and is slightly better than the Swindon local authority average of -0.06. In the local rankings, the school comes 8th out of 13 similar schools in Swindon, placing it in the 61st percentile. The Attainment 8 score is 39.4, and 54.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 32.7% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.31, and 25% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. Progress in maths is a relative strength at +0.1, while English progress is slightly negative at -0.21. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership, a clear step up from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2020.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, and science labs, with clubs covering everything from debate to gardening and martial arts. SEND provision is comprehensive, with support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health, among others. For families considering Lawn Manor, the key points are its strong demand from local first-preference families, its above-average FSM intake, and its solidly average Progress 8 performance that edges the LA mean. It suits families who want a large, inclusive secondary with good facilities and a clear improvement trajectory, but who are comfortable with the school not having a sixth form and with its relatively low EBacc entry rate. The oversubscription ratio suggests it is a popular choice among those who know the school well.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Salcombe Grove, Swindon, Swindon, SN3 1ER |
| Headteacher | Sandra Muir |
| Local Authority | Swindon |
| Number of Pupils | 940 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.1% |
| School Capacity | 940 / 1,000 (94% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 19 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.03)
1585th of 3,141
Nationally
155th of 306
In South West
8th of 13
In Swindon
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
2022/234%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 150 pupils).
- FE college75%
- Not sustained11%
- School sixth form (stay)4%
- Employment4%
- Sixth form college3%
- Apprenticeship1%
87% 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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed200
346
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
156 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British45.9%
- Asian28.1%
- White (other)8.1%
- Mixed7.0%
- Black0.7%
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.
15
Total schools
15
Oversubscribed
12
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 Lawn Manor Academy
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
Salcombe Grove, Swindon
Swindon, SN3 1ER
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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