St Augustine's Catholic College
95%
Capacity
950
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About St Augustine's Catholic College
St Augustine's Catholic College is a state secondary school in Wiltshire that is currently operating just below its full capacity, with 950 pupils against a school capacity of 1005. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.7%, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively stable local demographic. Demand for places appears strong, though the school does not report being oversubscribed in its admissions data. The school is a Roman Catholic institution, which will naturally shape its intake, and it draws from a wide area across the local authority. With a mixed gender intake and an age range from 11 to 18, it offers a full secondary education through to sixth form. The headteacher is Aidan Dowle, who leads a school that has consistently performed well in inspections.
Academically, the school performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.35 is significantly higher than the Wiltshire average of -0.01, placing it 5th out of 26 secondary schools in the local authority and within the top 25% nationally. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Outstanding across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a repeat of its previous Outstanding rating from 2017. At Key Stage 4, 78.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score was 50.3. At A-level, the average points per entry was 31.61, equivalent to a grade C, though the value added score of -0.34 is below average, suggesting that sixth form outcomes are less strong relative to prior attainment.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, chapel, sixth form centre, sports hall, astro turf, and science labs. Sports on offer include cricket, hockey, rugby, netball, and martial arts, while clubs range from chess and debate to Young Enterprise and Model UN. The school has a dedicated SEND department covering a broad spectrum of needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and social and emotional mental health support. For families considering this school, it is a strong academic choice at secondary level, particularly for those who value a Catholic ethos and a school that outperforms the local authority average. The sixth form, while still solid, may not offer the same level of added value as the main school, so it is worth investigating post-16 options carefully.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 9EN |
| Headteacher | Aidan Dowle |
| Local Authority | Wiltshire |
| Number of Pupils | 950 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.7% |
| School Capacity | 950 / 1,005 (95% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 23 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.35)
740th of 3,141
Nationally
51st of 306
In South West
5th of 26
In Wiltshire
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
38.4
'22/23
29.7
'23/24
31.6
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
2022/2354%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 234 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)54%
- FE college33%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained4%
- Sixth form college2%
- Employment2%
96% 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
2022/2371%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 136 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
36%
Russell Group
34%
Top-third HE
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)71%
- Employment16%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- 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- Sociology46
- Psychology29
- Mathematics24
- English Language and Literature19
- Accounting / Finance18
- Biology17
- Geography15
- History15
- Chemistry12
- Economics12
- English Literature12
- Physics12
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
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British64.2%
- Asian14.5%
- White (other)11.6%
- Mixed6.3%
- Black0.4%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
9
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 St Augustine's Catholic College
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Wingfield Road, Trowbridge
Wiltshire, BA14 9EN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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