Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
105%
Capacity
1,688
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
Royal Wootton Bassett Academy sits slightly above the Wiltshire average for secondary schools when it comes to academic progress. Its Progress 8 score of 0.08 is a notch higher than the local authority average of -0.01, meaning pupils here typically make a little more progress than their peers across the county. That places the school exactly in the middle of the pack in Wiltshire — ranked 13th out of 26 schools — and in the 42nd percentile nationally. It is not a standout performer in the way the county's grammar schools are, but it is comfortably above the baseline, which will reassure parents looking for a solid, reliable state option. The school is noticeably oversubscribed: for 280 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 472 applications, with 289 first-preference choices. That level of demand suggests local families see it as a strong choice, even if its headline metrics are not the highest in the area.
Academically, the school delivers a mixed but broadly positive picture. At GCSE, 70.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score was 47.4. The EBacc average point score of 4.04 is decent, though only 31.1% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. Progress in maths was notably strong, with a Progress 8 score of +0.26, while English and EBacc progress were slightly negative. At A-level, the school's value-added score of 0.1 is rated as average, with pupils achieving an average of 34.16 points per entry — equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels averaged a C+ as well. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour, personal development, and sixth-form provision. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2013, but the inspection judged the school as still performing well.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and dedicated sixth-form centre. It offers a broad range of clubs and sports, from coding and debate to netball and martial arts. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language difficulties. However, the Parent View responses suggest some division on SEND support: 44% of respondents agreed the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 53% disagreed. Overall, 77% of parents would recommend the school. With 1,688 pupils on a capacity of 1,611, the school is running slightly over capacity, which reflects its popularity. This is a good fit for families in the Wiltshire area who want a large, well-resourced comprehensive with a solid academic record and a wide choice of extracurricular activities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Lime Kiln, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 7HG |
| Headteacher | Anita Ellis |
| Local Authority | Wiltshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,688 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,688 / 1,611 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.08)
1340th of 3,141
Nationally
122nd of 306
In South West
13th 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.6
'22/23
35.3
'23/24
34.2
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
2022/2348%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 275 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)48%
- FE college31%
- Sixth form college10%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Not sustained3%
97% 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
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 169 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
25%
Russell Group
26%
Top-third HE
1%
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)54%
- Employment28%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained6%
- Other education2%
- Further education1%
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- Geography44
- Mathematics32
- Business Studies:Single23
- Biology20
- Economics18
- Chemistry15
- Sociology14
- Psychology13
- Art and Design (Graphics)12
- Computer Studies / Computing11
- English Literature10
- History10
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.
Ofsted Parent View
392 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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed280
472
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
289 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.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:00
Source: rwba.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 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British73.2%
- Asian9.6%
- White (other)5.6%
- Mixed4.6%
- Black1.1%
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.
Half 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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Royal Wootton Bassett 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
Lime Kiln, Swindon
Wiltshire, SN4 7HG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy!
Write a Review