Swindon Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Swindon for children and young people aged 2 to 19. In January 2026, 306 of its 1,820 pupils (16.8%) were getting SEN support and 41 (2.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–19
- 1,820 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Swindon.
16.8% get SEN support
306 of 1,820 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.3% have an EHC plan
41 of 1,820 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health128
- Moderate learning difficulty112
- Speech, language and communication61
- Autism17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia13
- Hearing impairment8
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 2 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,820 (places for 2,243)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Karen Wright (Principal)
- Part of
- United Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 38.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Swindon
- School reference (URN)
- 135364
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Swindon council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, May 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 8 areas
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, June 2022).
Contact and getting there
Beech Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1JR
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Compass Community School Wheatley Park Independent · Ages 7–17 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Crowdys Hill School Special school · Ages 4–19 0.7 miles
- Even Swindon Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Ruskin Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Swindon Academy
How many pupils at Swindon Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 306 of the 1,820 pupils (16.8%) were getting SEN support and 41 (2.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Swindon Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (128 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (112 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (61 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Swindon Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Swindon Academy?
Through Swindon council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Swindon Academy?
You can ask for Swindon Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Swindon Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Even Swindon Primary School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is Swindon Academy?
Beech Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1JR, in Swindon.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.