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Sheldon School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Hardenhuish Lane, Chippenham SN14 6HJ · sheldonschool.co.uk · 01249 766020

On the mapSearch near SN14 6HJ

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Mar 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
45.2
average Attainment 8 score. Wiltshire 46.2, England 46
Demand for places
0.8
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,467
82% of 1,800 places
Local authority
Wiltshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
19.6%
First language not English
9.3%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Sheldon School

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 178 families put the school first and 211 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 253 (Places 261)253September 2023: 236 (Places 273)236September 2024: 156 (Places 227)156September 2025: 186 (Places 212)186September 2026: 178 (Places 211)178Places 211
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262111780.8100%
September 2025Sept 20252121860.9100%
September 2024Sept 20242271560.7100%
September 2023Sept 20232732360.999%
September 2022Sept 20222612531100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 45.2, and 42.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Wiltshire it was 46.2, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (32.5 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 48.7 (England 46.3)48.72017/18: 49.9 (England 46.5)49.92018/19: 49.2 (England 46.7)49.22021/22: 50.3 (England 48.8)50.32022/23: 44.8 (England 46.3)44.82023/24: 45.7 (England 45.9)45.72024/25: 45.2 (England 46.0)45.2England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●45.246.0
▼42.2%45.4%
●64.9%64.8%
▼25.4%40.5%
●3.894.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form50.5−6.4
Further education40+8.5
Other education1.1−0.5
Apprenticeship2.5+0.9
Employment1.1−2.1
Not in a lasting destination3.3+0.5
Activity not captured1.5−0.9

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 31.2 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 29.9 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 30.4 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 31.9 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 37.8 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 31.9 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 32.7 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 32.5 (England 35.0)C+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
142 studentsC+ (32.5)Above average +0.27
143 studentsC+ (32.5)Above average +0.26
46 studentsMerit (24.6)Average +0.10
13%AAB or better
94.2%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24139C+ (32.7)-0.06
2022/23146C+ (31.9)—
2021/22164B- (37.8)—
2018/19184C+ (31.9)+0.13
2017/18200C (30.4)-0.01
2016/17187C (29.9)-0.01
2015/16191C (31.2)+0.07

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University43.4−7.7
Further and other education4.2+1.9
Further education2.1+1
Other education2.1+1
Apprenticeship5.6−0.6
Employment35+7.5
Not in a lasting destination7.7+0.4
Activity not captured4.2−1.4

Ofsted

Sheldon School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 12 March 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
12 Mar 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Previously: Concerns, ungraded inspection, Dec 2022

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Dec 2022Ungraded inspectionConcerns
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Oct 2012Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Mar 2008Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

81% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (166 replies, to 6 January 2025).

Recommend
81%
Replies
166
10% · 6 Jan 2025
Child is happy at school▼84% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe▼86% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▼80% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations●84% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well●85% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼68% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing▼82% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▲96% agreeEngland 90%
Can join clubs and activities▲95% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development●81% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly●78% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 77% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲55% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 42% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼54% agreeEngland 67%

based on 51 parents (31%) with SEND

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