Bradon Forest School is a mainstream secondary school in Swindon, Wiltshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 136 of its 987 pupils (13.8%) were getting SEN support and 58 (5.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 987 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Wiltshire.
13.8% get SEN support
136 of 987 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.9% have an EHC plan
58 of 987 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health73
- Moderate learning difficulty39
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia25
- Autism16
- Speech, language and communication15
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 secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 987 (places for 1,260)
- Headteacher
- Russell Clarke
- Part of
- The Athelstan Trust
- Free school meals
- 18.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Wiltshire
- School reference (URN)
- 142316
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 Wiltshire 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
Rated Good, February 2023; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (November 2021)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
The Peak, Purton, Swindon, SN5 4AT
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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
- Lydiard Park Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 2.3 miles
- Red Oaks Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.5 miles
- Brimble Hill Special School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.6 miles
- Uplands School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 2.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School & Nursery, Purton Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 14.2%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.1 miles
- Lydiard Millicent CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 7.9%, EHC plans 6.4% 1.0 mile
- Ridgeway Farm CofE Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 9%, EHC plans 8.1% 1.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Wiltshire SEND schools in Wiltshire
Questions about Bradon Forest School
How many pupils at Bradon Forest School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 136 of the 987 pupils (13.8%) were getting SEN support and 58 (5.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bradon Forest School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (73 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (39 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bradon Forest School?
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 Bradon Forest School?
Through Wiltshire 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 Bradon Forest School?
You can ask for Bradon Forest School 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 Bradon Forest School 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 Lydiard Park Academy, about 2.3 miles away.
Where is Bradon Forest School?
The Peak, Purton, Swindon, SN5 4AT, in Wiltshire.
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.