The John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge

In its own words: "The John of Gaunt School is a unique, vibrant and highly successful school. The School has a strong reputation for both academic and pastoral excellence, and it is a great honour to be the Headteacher."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am proud to be the Headteacher of The John of Gaunt School. It is a unique, vibrant and highly successful school with a strong reputation for academic excellence, personalised pastoral support and our extensive extra-curricular provision. Students are at the core of all that we do."

Coming up: an open evening on Friday 13 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The John of Gaunt School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.9 in Wiltshire and 47 across England.

35% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Wiltshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.09: 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 29.8, against 46.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 221 families put The John of Gaunt School as their first choice and 351 named it as one of their preferences, for 226 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 John of Gaunt School are St Augustine's Catholic College (under 0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.4); The Clarendon Academy (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39); St Laurence School (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.4); and Matravers School (4.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.1).

The John of Gaunt School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

The John of Gaunt School is one of 22 schools run by Equa Mead Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 222 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 55% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 59 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 49% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 29% into work. 26% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 215 pupils (16.6%) received SEN support and 90 (6.9%) 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 autism.

The John of Gaunt School has a resourced provision for other difficulties or disabilities: 30 places, 28 pupils on roll.

The John of Gaunt School had 98 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Trowbridge Rail Station, about 540 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is John of Gaunt School Grounds (nw-bound), 40 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 265 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wiltshire (34), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The John of Gaunt School issued 103 suspensions, 8.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The John of Gaunt School are St John's Catholic Primary School, Trowbridge (0.2 miles); Walwayne Court School (0.3 miles); Newtown Community Primary School (0.3 miles); and Studley Green Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.