The Clarendon Academy

About The Clarendon Academy

The Clarendon Academy is a mixed state secondary in Wiltshire, one of 30 schools of the same type in the local authority. It ranks 15th in the county by Progress 8, placing it squarely in the middle of the pack. The top three performers locally are South Wilts Grammar School, Bishop Wordsworth’s Church of England Grammar School, and St Laurence School, all of which post significantly higher Progress 8 scores. The Clarendon Academy’s own Progress 8 score of -0.06 sits just below the Wiltshire average of -0.01. Despite this, the school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 298 applications for 156 places, with 154 first-preference offers made. That level of demand suggests it holds a solid reputation locally, even if it isn’t among the county’s highest-achieving schools. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is St Augustine’s Catholic College, just 0.7 km away, which may be a factor for families weighing their options.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good overall, with leadership and management also rated Good. However, its sixth-form provision was judged as Requires improvement, a notable weak spot. At Key Stage 4, the Attainment 8 score is 40.8, and 54.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with 28.3% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.55, with 32.1% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and 17% achieving it at grade 4 or above. Progress 8 is broadly average across most subjects, though maths progress (-0.2) and English progress (-0.13) are slightly negative. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.17, with an average points per entry of 25.94 (equivalent to a C- grade). The best three A-levels average out at 26.81 points, also a C-.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and science labs, plus sports such as rowing, rugby, and netball. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and coding. Its SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision on site. With 29.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake compared with the national average. The Clarendon Academy will suit families looking for a large, inclusive secondary with strong extracurricular breadth and a sixth form, but those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes or a highly rated sixth form may want to look at the grammar schools or St Augustine’s nearby.

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