UTC Swindon
32%
Capacity
191
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About UTC Swindon
UTC Swindon is a state-funded 14-19 secondary school in the Swindon local authority, and it currently ranks 13th out of 13 schools of its type in the area, placing it at the bottom of the local league table. Its Progress 8 score of -1.46 is the lowest in the authority, well behind the top-performing local peers: New College Swindon (0.61), St Joseph's Catholic College (0.37), and Lydiard Park Academy (0.19). The school is significantly undersubscribed, with just 191 pupils on roll against a capacity of 600, and a relatively high proportion of students eligible for free school meals at 27.6%. Headteacher Hollie Taylor leads a school that was rated Requires Improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, with behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and quality of education all judged to require improvement, though sixth-form provision and personal development were both rated Good.
Academically, the school's results are well below both local and national averages. At Key Stage 4, the Progress 8 score of -1.46 means pupils achieve nearly one and a half grades less per subject than similar students nationally, compared with the Swindon LA average of -0.06. Attainment 8 sits at 31.1, and just 24.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. No pupils entered the EBacc, and the EBacc average point score was 2.5. At A-level, the picture is similarly challenging: the school's value-added score of -0.7 is classed as well below average, and the average points per entry of 13.85 equates to a grade of E+. With only 13 pupils in the sixth form, the cohort is very small, which can make comparisons less reliable but also points to limited academic breadth at this level.
On the practical side, UTC Swindon offers a surprisingly broad range of facilities for a school of its size, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, music rooms, and a sixth-form centre. There is a strong extracurricular programme with clubs ranging from Young Enterprise and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to orchestra, debate, and film club. The school also lists a wide array of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its small size and specialist 14-19 focus, this school may suit families looking for a more vocational or technical pathway, or those whose children have struggled in larger mainstream settings. However, the low capacity usage and poor academic outcomes mean parents should weigh these practical offerings carefully against the school's current performance challenges.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Bristol Street, Swindon, Swindon, SN1 5ET |
| Headteacher | Hollie Taylor |
| Local Authority | Swindon |
| Number of Pupils | 191 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.6% |
| School Capacity | 191 / 600 (32% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.46)
3098th of 3,141
Nationally
303rd of 306
In South West
13th of 13
In Swindon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
'21/22
11.7
'22/23
23.7
'23/24
13.8
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
2022/2346%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 57 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)46%
- FE college33%
- Sixth form college7%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment4%
98% 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
2022/2316%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 25 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
5%
Russell Group
5%
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.
- Apprenticeship36%
- Employment36%
- University (HE)16%
- Further education4%
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- Computer Studies / Computing4
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 16:00
Source: utcswindon.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British60.7%
- White (other)15.7%
- Asian6.8%
- Mixed5.3%
- Black0.5%
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
8
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About UTC Swindon
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
Bristol Street, Swindon
Swindon, SN1 5ET
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
