Lydiard Park Academy
94%
Capacity
1,287
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Lydiard Park Academy
Lydiard Park Academy is a popular choice among Swindon families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 secondary intake, the school received 415 applications for 232 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.79 applicants per place. Of those, 220 offers went to first-preference families, who submitted 231 applications in total. While the school does not publish a formal parent satisfaction score, the high demand suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 18, led by headteacher Gary Pearson. It currently educates 1,287 pupils against a capacity of 1,370, so there is a little room to grow. A quarter of its students (25.7%) are eligible for free school meals, which is a significant proportion and worth noting for families considering the school's inclusivity and support structures.
Academically, Lydiard Park Academy performs solidly above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.19 means pupils achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject than students with similar starting points nationally, and it comfortably beats the Swindon local authority average of -0.06. This places the school 3rd out of 13 secondary schools in Swindon and in the top 50% nationally. At GCSE, 66.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score was 46.6. The school's EBacc entry rate is 40.8%, with 21.8% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the school's value-added score is -0.1, which is rated as average, and students achieved an average of 32.61 points per entry, equivalent to a C+ grade. Ofsted last inspected the school in December 2023 and confirmed it remains Good, with leadership, management, and sixth-form provision all rated Good.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision includes rowing, martial arts, and gymnastics, while clubs range from Model UN to Eco Club and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists a comprehensive set of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and specific learning difficulties like dyslexia. It also has a resourced provision, which suggests targeted support for a particular need. With its strong Progress 8 score, oversubscribed status, and broad extracurricular offer, Lydiard Park Academy is likely to suit families looking for a well-regarded, inclusive secondary that delivers above-average academic progress within the Swindon area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Grange Park Way, Swindon, Swindon, SN5 6HN |
| Headteacher | Gary Pearson |
| Local Authority | Swindon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,287 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,287 / 1,370 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Dec 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (6 Dec 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Feb 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.19)
1099th of 3,141
Nationally
95th of 306
In South West
3rd of 13
In Swindon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.0
'22/23
33.4
'23/24
32.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2337%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 219 pupils).
- FE college42%
- School sixth form (stay)37%
- Sixth form college5%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
94% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2352%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 64 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
19%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)52%
- Employment30%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship6%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology28
- Business Studies:Single22
- Sociology15
- History14
- Economics11
- Biology10
- Chemistry10
- Mathematics10
- Geography9
- Art and Design (Fine Art)7
- Art and Design (Photography)6
- English Language and Literature6
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed232
415
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
231 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:05
Source: lydiardparkacademy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British69.3%
- White (other)13.0%
- Mixed7.1%
- Asian3.8%
- Black0.5%
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.
8
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
7
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 Lydiard Park 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
Grange Park Way, Swindon
Swindon, SN5 6HN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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