Classpot

The Dorcan Academy

Swindon, SN3 5DASecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jul 2022
Progress 8
-0.39
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
169 1st-choice / 170 places
Ranking
#2,432
of 3,141 nationally

About The Dorcan Academy

Parents considering The Dorcan Academy will want to know what other families think, and the numbers tell a clear story. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed, with 296 applications for 170 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.74. Of those, 154 first-preference offers were made from 169 first-preference applications, so the majority of families who put it top got in. That level of demand suggests a solid local reputation. The school is a mixed, non-selective secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Sherryl Bareham. It serves a community where 30.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, and the school has a capacity of 1,234, with 888 pupils currently on roll, so there is room to grow.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressSt Paul's Drive, Swindon, Swindon, SN3 5DA
HeadteacherSherryl Bareham
Local AuthoritySwindon
Number of Pupils888
Free School Meals (FSM)30.3%
School Capacity888 / 1,234 (72% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

12 Jul 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Playing FieldsMusic RoomsTennis CourtsLibraryArt StudiosSixth Form CentreGymnasiumScience LabsSports HallSwimming Pool

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

CricketHockeyDanceGymnasticsRugbySwimmingTennisBadminton

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubFilm ClubDebateNewspaperScience ClubOrchestraArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

Source: dorcan.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dorcan Academy

The Dorcan Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.