Swinton Academy

About Swinton Academy

Swinton Academy's Progress 8 score of -0.21 sits just below the Rotherham local authority average of -0.15, placing it in the middle of the pack among the 18 secondary schools in the area. That gap is modest — roughly one month's less academic progress per subject compared with the typical Rotherham pupil — and the school's Progress 8 banding is officially rated as 'Average', not below. In a local authority with no Outstanding-rated secondaries, a Good Ofsted rating from 2023 puts Swinton in the majority. The school ranks 9th out of 16 schools in the LA for Progress 8, which is exactly the median position, and sits in the 56th percentile nationally. For parents comparing options, the headline takeaway is that Swinton delivers broadly typical progress for the area, neither significantly ahead nor behind its neighbours.

At KS4, attainment is mixed. The Attainment 8 score of 39.6 means the average pupil achieves just under a grade 5 across their best eight subjects. The basics measure — pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in both English and maths — stands at 33.1%, while 58% achieve a grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score of 3.4 reflects modest take-up and performance in the core academic subjects, with only 8.8% of pupils entering and achieving the full EBacc. In maths, Progress 8 is -0.15, and in English it's -0.08, both close to the national average. The sixth form is smaller, with 34 pupils, and the value added score of -0.28 is rated 'Below average', with an average A-level grade of D+ and 23.68 points per entry. This suggests the sixth form may suit students aiming for vocational or mixed pathways rather than highly selective university courses.

The school is oversubscribed: for 110 places in 2025/26, it received 164 applications, with 110 first-preference applications and 109 offers made to first-preference families — an oversubscription ratio of 1.49. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision on site. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise, and sports range from rugby to netball. Swinton Academy suits families in Rotherham looking for a large, inclusive secondary with decent facilities and a sixth form, where academic outcomes are in line with the local average and the school has recently improved from Requires Improvement to Good.

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