Academy converter · Swindon

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College

11–18Ages
1,616Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137160URN

Inverary Road, Wroughton, Swindon, SN4 9DJ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.4per place

0.4 above Swindon median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Swindon

646 applications for 270 places · 3rd of 13 in Swindon

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

51.0of 90

Swindon 45.4 England 46.0

1st of 14 in Swindon

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 18 April 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Sixth form provision		Good

Inspection history

18 April 2023
Graded inspection: Good
4 March 2020
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Improving)

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

2.4applications per place, Year 7

0.4 above Swindon median (2.0) close to England median (2.2)

646 applications · 270 places offered · 300 named it first

2026 2.4; Swindon median median 2.0
2025 2.6; Swindon median median 1.8
2024 2.3; Swindon median median 1.8
2023 2.3; Swindon median median 1.6
2022 2.2; Swindon median median 1.7
2021 2.7; Swindon median median 1.7
2020 2.2; Swindon median median 1.7
2019 2.3; Swindon median median 1.6
2018 2.1; Swindon median median 1.5
2017 1.8; Swindon median median 1.4
2016 1.9; Swindon median median 1.9
2015 1.8; Swindon median median 1.7
2014 1.7; Swindon median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Swindon median in 12 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	270	646	2.4	300	1.11
Sep 2025	270	690	2.6	330	1.22
Sep 2024	270	628	2.3	314	1.16
Sep 2023	268	611	2.3	337	1.26
Sep 2022	273	591	2.2	344	1.26
Sep 2021	262	693	2.7	327	1.25
Sep 2020	268	582	2.2	275	1.03
Sep 2019	267	624	2.3	324	1.21
Sep 2018	291	606	2.1	297	1.02
Sep 2017	292	529	1.8	281	0.96
Sep 2016	248	479	1.9	224	0.90
Sep 2015	226	402	1.8	205	0.91
Sep 2014	231	384	1.7	195	0.84

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

266 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)51.01st of 14 in Swindon

Swindon 45.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths61%1st of 14 in Swindon

Swindon 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths78%

Swindon 66% England 66%

This school
Swindon median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.18

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	266	51.0	61%	78%	–
2024/25	270	53.5	62%	78%	–
2023/24	264	53.0	63%	76%	+0.18
2022/23	302	52.0	57%	74%	+0.22

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

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form CollegeThis school
This school

Good2023

2.4applications per place 51.0Attainment 8
The Commonweal School
2.2 km · Swindon

Remains Good · improving2023

2.5applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
The Deanery CofE Academy
2.2 km · Swindon

Special measures Inadequate2023

2.0applications per place 47.6Attainment 8
Lawn Manor Academy
3.5 km · Swindon

Good2023

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

Requires improvement2024

32.3Attainment 8
St Joseph's Catholic College
4.4 km · Swindon

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
Lydiard Park Academy
4.9 km · Swindon

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
The Dorcan Academy
5.5 km · Swindon

Good2022

1.9applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
Nova Hreod Academy
5.7 km · Swindon

Remains Good2022

1.5applications per place 49.6Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137160 · 866/5417
Trust: The White Horse Federation
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,450 pupils · 1,616 on roll
Free school meals: 17.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College (URN 126451)
Address: Inverary Road, Wroughton, Swindon, SN4 9DJ
Local authority: Swindon

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