Churchward School
William Morris Way, Swindon, SN25 2PPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Churchward School is a special school in Swindon for ages 11 to 19. It is one of the 90 schools in Swindon. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 January 2023, report published 9 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 January 2023
Pupils enjoy the calm, happy school environments at both sites that make up Churchward School. Leaders in the trust, school leaders and governors have not been thwarted by a recent unsettled period involving staffing changes. They are resolute in their drive to create a good school. The ambitious curriculum ensures that learning is relevant, fun and interesting. Teachers and teaching assistants manage pupils' communication challenges and sensory needs very well. They adapt learning tasks and the environment to match pupils' individual needs. This enables pupils to learn in the way that suits them. As a result of the nurture provided by staff, pupils settle to their activities and stick at them. For example, during a music lesson, pupils remembered drumming techniques from previous lessons. They used these to perform to a high standard. Pupils are confident that staff sort out any friendship or bullying issues they may have. If pupils ever need a little extra help, they turn to the five trusted adults and friends named on their 'safe hands'. Pupils learn to appreciate one another's challenges. They show empathy when describing how well staff support pupils during 'crisis' moments. As a pupil explained, 'Here, you can learn to be you.'
What the school should improve
- The few pupils at the school who are at the early stages of learning to read do not catch up as well as they could. Leaders recognise this but it is too soon to see the impact of the actions they have put in place. Leaders must ensure that staff have the knowledge and resources they need to provide appropriate support in phonics.
- Assessment systems in the school help leaders to check that pupils learn key content in subjects across the curriculum. However, systems to check that pupils remember what they have learned are less developed. Leaders need to check and assure themselves that pupils remember important curriculum content over time.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
24 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
139 pupils on roll, with places for 125
Schools near Churchward School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uplands School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Not published |
| Brimble Hill Special School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Compass Community School Wheatley Park | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St Luke's Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 2.6 |
| Meadow Bridge School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Free schools special
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- BRUNEL ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Gareth Bailey
- Phone
- 01793209198
- Address
- William Morris Way, Swindon, SN25 2PP
- Local authority
- Swindon
- URN
- 145874
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.