The Dean Academy
67%
Capacity
734
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About The Dean Academy
The Dean Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.02 sits noticeably below the Gloucestershire local authority average of 0.19, meaning pupils here make slightly less academic progress from Key Stage 2 to 4 than their peers across the county. That gap is modest but consistent — the school ranks 26th out of 44 secondary schools in the LA, placing it in the middle of the pack. In the Forest of Dean specifically, it comes third out of seven schools, which is a stronger local showing. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 39.3 is also below the national average, and only 29.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 95 measure). However, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage — 31.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals — so context matters when reading these numbers.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, The Dean Academy was rated Good overall, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2017. Every inspected category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — was judged Good. The Progress 8 breakdown shows some variation by subject: maths is a relative strength with a score of +0.17, while English is weaker at -0.20. The EBacc entry rate is 26%, and the EBacc average point score is 3.34, both modest figures. Only 5.7% of pupils entered the EBacc with a grade 5 or above in all components. The school’s Progress 8 banding is described as ‘Average’, and its national percentile ranking of 47 out of 100 places it squarely in the middle of schools across England.
The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 230 applications for 168 places and 163 first-preference offers, giving a ratio of 1.37 applicants per place. Facilities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, playing fields, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth form centre (though the school only goes to 16). Sports on offer range from rowing and rugby to dance and tennis, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, debate, and Model UN. SEND provision is broad, with a dedicated SEN unit and resourced provision covering needs from dyslexia and autism to speech and language difficulties. This is a school that suits families looking for a genuinely comprehensive secondary in the Forest of Dean, with improving Ofsted grades and a realistic picture of attainment given its intake — not a high-flyer on raw scores, but a solid local option that has turned around its inspection rating.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Church Road, Lydney, Forest of Dean, GL15 5DZ |
| Headteacher | Hannah Rowlands |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 734 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.6% |
| School Capacity | 734 / 1,095 (67% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Sept 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 21 Oct 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.02)
1475th of 3,141
Nationally
139th of 306
In South West
3rd of 7
In Forest of Dean
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2320%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 117 pupils).
- FE college53%
- School sixth form (stay)20%
- Employment14%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship4%
91% 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.
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed168
230
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
163 families put this school as their 1st choice (71% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.4%
- Mixed3.2%
- White (other)2.5%
- Asian0.6%
- Black0.1%
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.
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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 The Dean 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
Church Road, Lydney
Forest of Dean, GL15 5DZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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