Academy converter · Swindon

St Joseph's Catholic College

11–16Ages
1,425Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
136980URN

Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodNov 2014

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Nov 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.7per place

0.3 below Swindon median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Swindon

426 applications for 256 places · 11th of 13 in Swindon

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

46.2of 90

Swindon 45.4 England 46.0

7th of 14 in Swindon

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodNov 2014

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Nov 2023

Inspection history

8 November 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
12 November 2014
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.7applications per place, Year 7

0.3 below Swindon median (2.0) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

426 applications · 256 places offered · 237 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.7; Swindon median median 2.0
2025 1.6; Swindon median median 1.8
2024 1.7; Swindon median median 1.8
2023 1.3; Swindon median median 1.6
2022 1.4; Swindon median median 1.7
2021 1.5; Swindon median median 1.7
2020 1.5; Swindon median median 1.7
2019 1.4; Swindon median median 1.6
2018 1.5; Swindon median median 1.5
2017 1.4; Swindon median median 1.4
2016 1.5; Swindon median median 1.9
2015 1.6; Swindon median median 1.7
2014 1.5; Swindon median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Swindon median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Swindon median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	256	426	1.7	237	0.93
Sep 2025	268	417	1.6	232	0.87
Sep 2024	280	483	1.7	264	0.94
Sep 2023	267	349	1.3	245	0.92
Sep 2022	256	355	1.4	236	0.92
Sep 2021	255	387	1.5	235	0.92
Sep 2020	237	349	1.5	220	0.93
Sep 2019	268	379	1.4	259	0.97
Sep 2018	268	404	1.5	263	0.98
Sep 2017	267	372	1.4	264	0.99
Sep 2016	257	378	1.5	260	1.01
Sep 2015	227	351	1.6	223	0.98
Sep 2014	225	342	1.5	230	1.02

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

282 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.27th of 14 in Swindon

Swindon 45.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths49%5th of 14 in Swindon

Swindon 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths64%

Swindon 66% England 66%

This school
Swindon median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.37

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	282	46.2	49%	64%	–
2024/25	278	38.0	28%	49%	–
2023/24	275	49.1	50%	68%	+0.37
2022/23	272	47.0	43%	66%	−0.06

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Joseph's Catholic CollegeThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
Lawn Manor Academy
1.1 km · Swindon

Good2023

1.9applications per place 41.5Attainment 8
UTC Swindon
2.1 km · Swindon

Requires improvement2024

32.3Attainment 8
The Dorcan Academy
2.4 km · Swindon

Good2022

1.9applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
The Commonweal School
2.4 km · Swindon

Remains Good · improving2023

2.5applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Swindon Academy
2.4 km · Swindon

2026

2.2applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
Kingsdown School
3.0 km · Swindon

Standards maintained2025

1.7applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
Nova Hreod Academy
3.5 km · Swindon

Remains Good2022

1.5applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
The Deanery CofE Academy
3.8 km · Swindon

Special measures Inadequate2023

2.0applications per place 47.6Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136980 · 866/5409
Trust: St Joseph's Catholic College
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 1,350 pupils · 1,425 on roll
Free school meals: 20.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: SEN unit
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: St Joseph's Catholic College (URN 126504)
Address: Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR
Local authority: Swindon

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources