Abbey Park School
Academy sponsor led · 1,193 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.2
Free schools
Great Western Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,039of 1,210 places
- Free school meals
- 17.0%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 155
- Ofsted
- Good, 10 January 2023Read the Ofsted report
What the data says
Of the 151 pupils who finished Year 11 at Great Western Academy in 2023, 40% stayed on in Great Western Academy’s own sixth form (Swindon average 19%), 24% went to a further education college and 4% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 53 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 58% went to university (Swindon 26%, England 37%), and 13% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Drama is unusually popular at GCSE: 23% of the year group took it, against 7% of pupils across England.
GCSE results in 2025 were in line with the national picture: Attainment 8 of 45.5 against 46.1 across England and 44.0 in Swindon, with 41% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Swindon and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Great Western Academy | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 151 | 2,533 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 93% | 92% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 85% | 87% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 40% | 19% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 21% | 19% | 13% |
| — further education college | 24% | 47% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 3% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Great Western Academy | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 53 | 2,474 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 87% | 76% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 58% | 26% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 13% | 8% | 19% |
| Further education | 4% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 15% | 34% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 11% | 18% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Great Western Academy | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 45.5 | 44.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 41% | 43% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 70% | 63% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 40% | 34% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.09 | 3.91 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 13% | 23% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 31.5 | 32.5 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 47.6 | 47.5 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 8% | 16% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 155 | 100% | 89% | 14% | 20% | 69% |
| Mathematics | 155 | 100% | 88% | 13% | 22% | 79% |
| English Literature | 153 | 99% | 86% | 12% | 21% | 67% |
| Combined Science | 98 | 63% | 65% | 2% | 9% | 53% |
| Business Studies | 79 | 51% | 18% | 11% | 20% | 59% |
| History | 72 | 46% | 41% | 19% | 26% | 68% |
| Geography | 69 | 45% | 41% | 20% | 25% | 57% |
| Physics | 57 | 37% | 23% | 28% | 46% | 93% |
| Biology | 56 | 36% | 23% | 18% | 45% | 88% |
| Chemistry | 56 | 36% | 23% | 21% | 47% | 93% |
| Spanish | 47 | 30% | 19% | 23% | 27% | 70% |
| Physical Education | 46 | 30% | 11% | 7% | 24% | 48% |
| Fine Art | 41 | 26% | 9% | 7% | 28% | 51% |
| Computer Science | 36 | 23% | 13% | 17% | 30% | 56% |
| Drama | 35 | 23% | 7% | 11% | 27% | 66% |
| French | 32 | 21% | 18% | 3% | 29% | 59% |
| Religious Studies | 31 | 20% | 31% | 39% | 32% | 81% |
| Dance | 21 | 14% | 1% | 24% | 27% | 71% |
| Textiles | 20 | 13% | 2% | 10% | 27% | 65% |
| Music | 12 | 8% | 5% | 8% | 33% | 33% |
| Polish | 5 | 3% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
| Italian | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
| Chinese | 1 | 1% | 1% | — | 75% | — |
| Arabic | 1 | 1% | 1% | — | 47% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 31 | 36% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 14 | 16% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Great Western Academy | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 203 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 87 | 766 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C | C | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 31.42 | 29.32 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | C | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 12% | 9% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 24 | 28% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 22 | 25% | 31% |
| Sociology | 16 | 18% | 13% |
| English Language | 14 | 16% | 4% |
| Business Studies | 13 | 15% | 13% |
| Biology | 11 | 13% | 20% |
| Law | 11 | 13% | 4% |
| History | 11 | 13% | 13% |
| Geography | 10 | 11% | 10% |
| Physics | 9 | 10% | 12% |
| Computer Science | 9 | 10% | 5% |
| Further Mathematics | 8 | 9% | 5% |
| Fine Art | 7 | 8% | 3% |
| Economics | 6 | 7% | 13% |
| Drama | 6 | 7% | 2% |
| Politics | 6 | 7% | 6% |
| Chemistry | 6 | 7% | 17% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Textiles | — | — | 1% |
| Dance | — | — | 0% |
| Product Design | — | — | 2% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Media Studies | — | — | 4% |
| Physical Education | — | — | 3% |
| Religious Studies | — | — | 4% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 16 | 18% | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 8 | 9% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 9% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | 7 | 8% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 7 | 8% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 7 | 8% | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Economics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Economics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Swindon
Kingsdown School
Academy converter · 1,108 pupils
82% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.4
Lawn Manor Academy
Academy converter · 969 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.5
Lydiard Park Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,302 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.0
Nova Hreod Academy
Academy converter · 1,044 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.1
St Joseph's Catholic College
Academy converter · 1,425 pupils
95% stayed in education · Attainment 8 38.0
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.