Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Swindon

In its own words: "We strive to maximise the potential of each person in our community and want this school to be the best of the best. We will never stop our programme of continuous improvement. Students leave us to join an ever changing world and we have to make sure they are prepared for all challenges."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, cooking and Duke of Edinburgh.

On phones, the school says: "Further information can be found in the Department for Education guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-in schools/mobile-phones-in-schools Currently, students are expected to keep mobile phones switched off and out of sight in their bags throughout the school day."

In 2026, pupils at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.9 in Wiltshire and 47 across England.

53% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Wiltshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 51.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.08: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 39.5, against 52.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 222 families put Royal Wootton Bassett Academy as their first choice and 367 named it as one of their preferences, for 230 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Royal Wootton Bassett Academy are Lydiard Park Academy (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.1); Bradon Forest School (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.5); The Deanery CofE Academy (4 miles, Attainment 8 47.6); and Nova Hreod Academy (4.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.6).

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy is one of 7 schools run by Ascend Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.9 in 2024/25.

392 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (as of September 2025): 77% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 54% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (54%).

Of the 280 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 155 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 45% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 34% into work. 21% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 265 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 51 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Bus Park (n-bound), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 73 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wiltshire (34), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy issued 91 suspensions, 5.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Royal Wootton Bassett Academy are St Bartholomew's Primary Academy (0.3 miles), Longleaze Primary School (0.4 miles), Wootton Bassett Infants' School (0.6 miles) and Noremarsh Junior School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.