The Clarendon Academy, Trowbridge

In its own words: "Clarendon Academy is a thriving co-educational 11-18 comprehensive academy within the Acorn Education Trust. We pride ourselves on being a centre of excellence and a place where young, enthusiastic children enter in Year 7 and leave us at the end of Year 13 as fully rounded young adults."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Clarendon Academy, our vision is to prepare our young people for their world in their time, so that they can embark on their journey beyond school with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed in their chosen pathway."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2026, pupils at The Clarendon Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.9 in Wiltshire and 47 across England.

30% 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 39.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.06: 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 32.2, against 42.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 115 families put The Clarendon Academy as their first choice and 246 named it as one of their preferences, for 117 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 The Clarendon Academy are The John of Gaunt School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.9); St Augustine's Catholic College (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.4); St Laurence School (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.4); and Matravers School (4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Clarendon Academy.

The Clarendon Academy is one of 21 schools run by Acorn Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.9 in 2024/25.

Of the 159 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 52 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 37% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 29% into work. 20% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 175 pupils (16.2%) received SEN support and 89 (8.2%) 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.

The Clarendon Academy has a resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties: 10 places, 5 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Trowbridge Rail Station, about 950 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Clarendon Academy (se-bound), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 256 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wiltshire (34), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Clarendon Academy issued 1201 suspensions, 108.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Clarendon Academy are The Grove Primary School (0.3 miles), Studley Green Primary School (0.4 miles), Newtown Community Primary School (0.4 miles) and Holbrook Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.