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Secondary school · Lydney

The Dean Academy

Ages 11 to 16 · 816 pupils (411 boys, 405 girls)

Getting a Year 7 place in 2026

34 places left

Last year, The Dean Academy did not fill its Year 7 places: 34 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in.

165places

162families put it first

99%of those got in

Year by year since 2019

2019Not full: everyone who applied got in
2020Not full: everyone who applied got in
2021Not full: everyone who applied got in
2022Not full: everyone who applied got in
2023Not full: everyone who applied got in
2024Not full: everyone who applied got in
2025Not full: everyone who applied got in
2026Not full: everyone who applied got in
Check how far you live
More about how places were given

165 Year 7 places for September 2026. 162 families put it first, about 1.0 for each place.

34 spare places after offers in 2026.

Looked-after children, EHC plans, siblings, catchment areas and faith can come before distance, and distances change every year. Read the admissions policy before you apply.

Year 7 places left after offers, September 2026 entry, Gloucestershire County Council. Earlier years: allocation-day tables, Gloucestershire County Council. What this means

Secondary offer day (allocation day): 1 March 2027. Key dates

In short.

Typical is the middle school when all 34 Gloucestershire secondaries that are not grammar schools are lined up, half above and half below. Tap a box for the detail. GCSE grades run from 9 (highest) to 1; a 4 is a standard pass, roughly the old C.

How places are given.

This school sets its own admission rules. After children whose EHC plan names the school, if more families apply than there are places, its policy gives places in this order:

  1. Children in care, or who were in care
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils at the school
  3. Everyone else, nearest first (straight-line distance)

Our short summary of the school's 2027 policy, checked 7 November 2026. The policy has the full definitions, such as who counts as a brother or sister and how distance is measured.

Read the school's admission rules for September 2027 (PDF)

Free school transport. If this is your nearest suitable school and the walking route is more than 2 miles (children under 8) or 3 miles (8 and over), the council usually provides free transport. Families on lower incomes can get help over shorter distances. School transport

GCSE results.

−0.2

grades lower in each subject, on average, than at schools in England with similar pupils. Similar pupils means a similar share from lower-income families (34% here).

Average GCSE grade, each year

20243.9
20254.3
20264.3

Each year is a different group of pupils.

Results subject by subject

Average grade (9 is highest) and how many entries got a standard pass (grade 4+) or a top grade (7+), for subjects with 10 or more entries. "County" is the average for all Gloucestershire non-grammar schools.

SubjectEntriesAverage gradeGrade 4+Grade 7+
English Language1164.5county 4.766%14%
Mathematics1164.2county 4.766%14%
English Literature1154.2county 4.759%12%
Combined Science864.2county 4.456%15%
Geography734.4county 4.759%21%
History543.8county 4.746%19%
Spanish503.7county 5.238%12%
Physical Education403.3county 5.035%5%
Religious Studies314.6county 5.158%26%
Biology254.8county 5.960%20%
Chemistry254.2county 5.860%16%
Physics254.6county 6.064%16%
Art and Design204.2county 5.050%15%
Business Studies193.4county 4.737%11%
Design and Technology194.4county 4.968%16%
Computer Science173.6county 4.341%24%
Music125.1county 5.175%33%

GCSE results 2025/26 (provisional), subject results. Small subjects can swing a lot from year to year.

Where it ranks in Gloucestershire
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8: divide by 10 for the average grade per subject · 24th of 34 · Typical 45.043.1
GCSEs compared with similar schools10 points is about one grade in each subject · joint 19th of 34 · Typical −1.5−2.1
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsA standard pass, roughly the old C · 26th of 34 · Typical 65%56%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsA strong pass · 27th of 34 · Typical 42%34%
Grade 4 or above in science29th of 34 · Typical 67%54%
Teachers still there a year laterjoint 28th of 33 · Typical 89%84%

Positions are among Gloucestershire secondary schools that are not grammar schools with a published figure. 1st means the highest results. Typical is the school in the middle when they are lined up from highest to lowest. Jargon buster.

GCSE results 2025/26 (provisional).

Sixth form and next steps.

After Year 11

Where pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24 went.

Stayed in education, training or work

90%

Glos 92% · England 91%

Went to a school sixth form

19%

here or at another school

Went to a college

56%

sixth form or further education college

Started an apprenticeship

7%

See three years and more detail
Leaving year2021/22110 pupils2022/23108 pupils2023/24123 pupilsGlos 2023/24
Stayed in education, training or work87%89%90%92%
School sixth form16%17%19%46%
Sixth form college0%0%3%10%
Further education college54%54%53%29%
Apprenticeship9%11%7%4%
Work7%7%8%3%
Did not stay in any of these9%6%4%5%
Not known4%5%6%3%

Percentages of pupils who left that year. “Glos” is all Gloucestershire state schools and colleges. Rows can add up to more or less than 100% because of rounding and pupils doing more than one thing.

Ofsted.

Ofsted

Needs attention in 2

Report card, 2026

Report card (27 January 2026), each area rated on a five-step scale.

InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Safeguarding standardsMet
Inspection history (9 reports)
  • 27 January 2026School inspection: report card (see above) · report
  • 22 September 2021School inspection: Good · report
  • 22 November 2017Full inspection · report
  • 14 June 2017Monitoring visit · report
  • 31 January 2017Monitoring visit · report
  • 15 November 2016Monitoring visit · report
  • 04 May 2016Monitoring visit · report
  • 07 October 2015Full inspection · report
  • 15 May 2013Monitoring visit · report

Grades from different years were given under different rules, so they are not directly comparable. Reports from before a school became an academy are listed under its old school on the Ofsted website.

Read the reports on the Ofsted website

What parents told Ofsted.

My child is happy at this school75%
My child feels safe at this school76%
The school makes sure pupils behave well65%
The school communicates well with me75%
Would recommend the school to another parent78%

Share of parents who agreed, from 102 parents who filled in Ofsted's Parent View survey between November 2025 and September 2026. Parents choose whether to take part, so this may not reflect every family.

Day to day.

Pupils

How full the school is730 pupils for 1,095 places, May 202567%
Can get free school mealsA sign of how many families have lower incomes▲ Higher than typical (21%)34%
Get extra help with special needsSEN support, without a formal planAbout typical (17%)19%
Have an EHC planA legal plan for special needs▲ Higher than typical (4.2%)6.1%
Speak another language at home▼ Lower than typical (5.7%)4.0%

Attendance and behaviour

Lessons missedFor any reasonAbout typical (8.4%)8.7%
Missing 1 day in 10 or moreCalled “persistently absent”About typical (25%)25%
Suspensions per 100 pupils▲ Higher than typical (17.6)21.4
Permanent exclusionsPupils told they cannot come back2

Teachers and money

Pupils per teacherNot the same as class size▲ Higher than typical (16.6)18.1
Teachers still there a year later▼ Lower than typical (89%)84%
Spending per pupilSmall schools usually cost more per childAbout typical (£7,532)£7,516

Behaviour policies differ between schools, so compare suspensions with care. Pupils and staff: school census and workforce census, Department for Education.

Questions parents ask.

How close do you need to live to get a place at The Dean Academy?

Last year, The Dean Academy did not fill its Year 7 places: 34 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in. Year by year since 2019: 2019: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2020: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2021: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2022: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2023: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2024: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2025: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2026: not full: everyone who applied got in. Distances change every year, and children in priority groups (such as looked-after children, children with an EHC plan naming the school and brothers or sisters of current pupils) can get places before distance is used.

How many families applied to The Dean Academy?

For September 2026 Year 7 entry, 162 families put The Dean Academy as their first choice, and 165 places were offered. (Department for Education, secondary applications and offers 2026)

What are The Dean Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026, pupils at The Dean Academy got an average Attainment 8 score of 43.1, and 56% got grade 4 or above in both English and maths. (Department for Education, provisional GCSE results 2025/26)

What did Ofsted say about The Dean Academy?

Inspected under Ofsted's new report cards (27 January 2026): 0 of 7 areas strong or better, 2 need attention.

How do I apply for a place at The Dean Academy?

You apply to your home council, not to the school. If you live in Gloucestershire, that is Gloucestershire County Council. For September 2027 entry, on-time applications closed at midnight, 31 October 2026, and offers are sent on 1 March 2027. Late applications are dealt with after on-time ones.

Contact and nearby.

Church Road, Lydney

Head teacher: Hannah Rowlands

Run by an academy trust: The Athelstan Trust

01594 843202 · School website

Official school record · Gloucestershire school admissions

Nearby secondary schools

All secondary schools in Forest of Dean ›

Spotted something wrong on this page? Tell us

This is a guide, not an admissions decision. Figures come from the Department for Education, Ofsted and Gloucestershire County Council and were last updated 7 November 2026. Always check the school's admissions policy and the council's admissions pages before applying. How admissions work