Uplands School
The Learning Campus, Tadpole Lane, Swindon, SN25 2NBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Uplands 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 Requires improvement, from an inspection in July 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 2 July 2024, report published 15 September 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Requires improvement
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Requires improvement
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 2 July 2024
Care and kindness are at the heart of Uplands School. Pupils' mental and physical health needs are prioritised. The school focuses on preparing pupils for the next step of their education and adulthood. However, further work remains to ensure that all pupils get the most from their time here. The school's new curriculum is designed to help its pupils with severe, profound and complex special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) become independent and resilient young people. Pupils learn how to be safe in the home and online. The curriculum is raising expectations of what pupils can achieve. Students in the sixth form are well supported to secure new knowledge, skills and vocabulary. Most older pupils are aspirational about the next stages of their lives. Pupils value the careers advice, work experience and travel training experiences organised by the school. Pupils' talents and interests are nurtured at Uplands. Pupils enjoy a wide range of trips and visits. They contribute to school life. For example, the school council recently reinstated the school's cafe. Such opportunities positively reinforce pupils' learning in real-life experiences. Pupils behave well in class and staff provide appropriate support when needed. Pupils learn about different cultures and the importance of tolerance and respect.
What the school should improve
- The school has recently developed its curriculum. It is in the early stages of implementation. As a result, staff do not have secure knowledge of the content and expectations of the new curriculum. The trust needs to ensure that staff develop their knowledge of the curriculum so that they accurately identify and close gaps in pupils' knowledge.
- In some curriculum subjects, pupils do not have a secure knowledge of important curriculum concepts. Consequently, pupils cannot make connections between the curriculum's important content to build on prior learning. The school needs to ensure that pupils secure their curriculum content knowledge to recall and connect important concepts.
Pupil numbers and mix
172 pupils on roll, with places for 173
Schools near Uplands School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brimble Hill Special School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Churchward School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 13.0 |
| Compass Community School Wheatley Park | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St Luke's Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 2.6 |
| Crowdys Hill School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- BRUNEL ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Dr Katie Cook
- Phone
- 01793493910
- Address
- The Learning Campus, Tadpole Lane, Swindon, SN25 2NB
- Local authority
- Swindon
- URN
- 143014
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.