The Dean Academy, Lydney

Good
Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Hannah Rowlands
Pupils:816 / 1,095 capacity
LA:Gloucestershire
Phone:01594843202
Address:Church Road, Lydney, GL15 5DZ
Trust:THE ATHELSTAN TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 November 2012

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 27 January 2026View full report
URN:138421
UKPRN:10038377
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Forest of Dean
Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The Dean Academy creates an inclusive, welcoming environment where all pupils feel cared for and supported. Staff know pupils well and provide excellent targeted support for those with additional needs, particularly through the EPIC Resource Base. The school offers a vibrant range of clubs, competitions and trips that help pupils develop their talents, with the Deanstock summer music festival being a particular highlight.

Key Strengths

  • Strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and concerns are actively managed
  • Effective support for pupils with special educational needs through the EPIC Resource Base and personalised approaches
  • Inclusive leadership that ensures disadvantaged pupils can access the full range of school activities
  • Consistent behaviour expectations creating a calm school environment
  • Wide range of clubs and enrichment activities helping pupils develop their interests and talents

Areas for Improvement

  • Teaching is inconsistent across the curriculum - teachers do not reliably use agreed approaches which weakens pupils' learning
  • Pupils' work in many subjects does not match the standard achieved in English and mathematics
  • Teachers do not give enough feedback on spelling, punctuation and written work quality, so errors persist
  • Assessment practices are weak - teachers do not accurately check what pupils know or identify gaps early enough
  • Some staff do not consistently use strategies to support pupils who struggle with learning

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

zoology club with land snails, film appreciation, bead club, music groups, house competitions, Student Support Centre, careers provision with local employers, Speech and Debate competition, trips and visits, Deanstock summer music festival

The Dean Academy is a school where pupils feel safe and supported, with effective safeguarding and positive behaviour. However, teaching quality is inconsistent across subjects, which is limiting pupils' achievement in areas beyond English and mathematics.

At a Glance

34.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

24.5

Avg class size

30

Total classes

4 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Lydney Rail Station (Entrance)
889m · 14 min walk

Tube / Metro / Tram

St Mary's Halt (Dean Forest Railway)
390m · 6 min walk
Dean Forest Railway
539m · 9 min walk
Lydney Town (Dean Forest Railway)
540m · 9 min walk

Bus Stops

The Dean Academy (by)
88m · 1 min walk
The Dean Academy Grounds (inside)
94m · 2 min walk
Town Hall (opp)
176m · 3 min walk
Cross (by)
218m · 4 min walk
Cross and Town Hall (opp)
223m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

75%

Available places

816 pupils

1,095 capacity

279 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Lydney

Low pressure
New homes approved:506
Projected new pupils:91

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Lydney

Admissions Demand - Gloucestershire

Low demand0.84x oversubscription

Places available

7,972

Applications

6,678

Got 1st preference

84.6%

Got preferred school

96.6%

Secondary admissions across Gloucestershire (2025/26)

Inspection History(9)

27 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
22 September 2021
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
22 November 2017
Requires ImprovementReport
Leadership & ManagementGood

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

8.29585%

Overall absence

24.90272%

Persistent absence

771

Enrolments

Authorised6.08789%
Unauthorised2.20796%
Persistent (10%+)24.90272%
Severe (50%+)2.85344%

Absence trend

5.7141%
18/19
6.51267%
20/21
10.81907%
21/22
8.40749%
22/23
9.15614%
23/24
8.29585%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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