What did Ofsted judge The Dorcan Academy's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged The Dorcan Academy's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in July 2022, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend The Dorcan Academy?

The Dorcan Academy has 881 pupils on roll.

What ages does The Dorcan Academy take?

The Dorcan Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is The Dorcan Academy located?

The Dorcan Academy is located in Swindon, SN3 5DA, Swindon.

How do I apply to The Dorcan Academy?

The Dorcan Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How close do you need to live to get into The Dorcan Academy?

On offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at The Dorcan Academy was 0.895 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.

How are Year 7 places decided at The Dorcan Academy?

When The Dorcan Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after / previously looked after children — Top priority to Looked After Children and all previously looked after children (children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order), and to children who appear to have been in state care outside of England but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted; 2. Feeder school + sibling — Children attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending The Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (excludes siblings attending as part of an unconfirmed directed off-site placement); 3. Non-feeder school + sibling — Children not attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (same exclusion as above), and 3 further criteria. The school offers 175 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applicants meeting any oversubscription criterion than remaining places, priority is determined by proximity of the child's home to The Dorcan Academy (Local Authority determined straight-line distance between home and school). If, after applying the distance tie-breaker, there are still more applications than places, a further tie-breaker of random allocation (lottery) is used.

What is the largest ethnic background at The Dorcan Academy?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 78.1% of pupils at The Dorcan Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

The Dorcan Academy: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

How close did you need to live?

0.895miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7). That is how far the last place reached in ONE year — not a boundary, and not a guarantee. It moves with the number of applicants, so treat it as a guide rather than a line on a map.

Last distance offered at The Dorcan Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at The Dorcan Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after / previously looked after children — Top priority to Looked After Children and all previously looked after children (children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order), and to children who appear to have been in state care outside of England but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted.
2Feeder school + sibling — Children attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending The Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (excludes siblings attending as part of an unconfirmed directed off-site placement).
3Non-feeder school + sibling — Children not attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (same exclusion as above).
4Child of staff member — Any child of a staff member employed at the school for two or more years at the time the application for admission is made, or where the staff member has been recruited to a post with a skill shortage.
5Other children at named feeder schools — Other children attending the named feeder schools.
6Proximity — Other children in the priority of proximity of the child's home to The Dorcan Academy, using the Local Authority determined distance measured as a straight line between home and school.

If two applications tie: Where there are more applicants meeting any oversubscription criterion than remaining places, priority is determined by proximity of the child's home to The Dorcan Academy (Local Authority determined straight-line distance between home and school). If, after applying the distance tie-breaker, there are still more applications than places, a further tie-breaker of random allocation (lottery) is used.

Students with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an EHCP naming Dorcan are admitted first as required by law (kept separate from, and not counted as, the numbered oversubscription criteria). There is no guarantee of a place for children attending a named feeder school, only priority in the event of oversubscription. These criteria also govern in-year admissions after the September 2027 main round.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

The Dorcan Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge The Dorcan Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged The Dorcan Academy's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in July 2022, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend The Dorcan Academy?: The Dorcan Academy has 881 pupils on roll.
What ages does The Dorcan Academy take?: The Dorcan Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is The Dorcan Academy located?: The Dorcan Academy is located in Swindon, SN3 5DA, Swindon.
How do I apply to The Dorcan Academy?: The Dorcan Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into The Dorcan Academy?: On offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at The Dorcan Academy was 0.895 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at The Dorcan Academy?: When The Dorcan Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after / previously looked after children — Top priority to Looked After Children and all previously looked after children (children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order), and to children who appear to have been in state care outside of England but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted; 2. Feeder school + sibling — Children attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending The Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (excludes siblings attending as part of an unconfirmed directed off-site placement); 3. Non-feeder school + sibling — Children not attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (same exclusion as above), and 3 further criteria. The school offers 175 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applicants meeting any oversubscription criterion than remaining places, priority is determined by proximity of the child's home to The Dorcan Academy (Local Authority determined straight-line distance between home and school). If, after applying the distance tie-breaker, there are still more applications than places, a further tie-breaker of random allocation (lottery) is used.
What is the largest ethnic background at The Dorcan Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 78.1% of pupils at The Dorcan Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

League tables in Swindon Compare Swindon schools Best secondary schools in Swindon Swindon hub All Swindon schools Schools on map Admissions checker Choosing sixth form guide Catchment areas guide What to ask on a visit

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Connected nurseries & schools

Feeder schools & nurseries

Children attending these settings are given priority in this school's admissions.

Covingham Park Primary School

Primary

Nythe Primary School

Primary

Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

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Nearby schools within 5 km

How close did you need to live?

0.895miles

Last distance offered at The Dorcan Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at The Dorcan Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after / previously looked after children — Top priority to Looked After Children and all previously looked after children (children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order), and to children who appear to have been in state care outside of England but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted.
2Feeder school + sibling — Children attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending The Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (excludes siblings attending as part of an unconfirmed directed off-site placement).
3Non-feeder school + sibling — Children not attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (same exclusion as above).
4Child of staff member — Any child of a staff member employed at the school for two or more years at the time the application for admission is made, or where the staff member has been recruited to a post with a skill shortage.
5Other children at named feeder schools — Other children attending the named feeder schools.
6Proximity — Other children in the priority of proximity of the child's home to The Dorcan Academy, using the Local Authority determined distance measured as a straight line between home and school.

The Dorcan Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge The Dorcan Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged The Dorcan Academy's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in July 2022, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend The Dorcan Academy?: The Dorcan Academy has 881 pupils on roll.
What ages does The Dorcan Academy take?: The Dorcan Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is The Dorcan Academy located?: The Dorcan Academy is located in Swindon, SN3 5DA, Swindon.
How do I apply to The Dorcan Academy?: The Dorcan Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into The Dorcan Academy?: On offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at The Dorcan Academy was 0.895 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at The Dorcan Academy?: When The Dorcan Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after / previously looked after children — Top priority to Looked After Children and all previously looked after children (children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order), and to children who appear to have been in state care outside of England but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted; 2. Feeder school + sibling — Children attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending The Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (excludes siblings attending as part of an unconfirmed directed off-site placement); 3. Non-feeder school + sibling — Children not attending a named feeder school with a sibling attending Dorcan Academy at the time of application, with a reasonable expectation they will be attending at the start of the new academic year (same exclusion as above), and 3 further criteria. The school offers 175 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applicants meeting any oversubscription criterion than remaining places, priority is determined by proximity of the child's home to The Dorcan Academy (Local Authority determined straight-line distance between home and school). If, after applying the distance tie-breaker, there are still more applications than places, a further tie-breaker of random allocation (lottery) is used.
What is the largest ethnic background at The Dorcan Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 78.1% of pupils at The Dorcan Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Connected nurseries & schools

Feeder schools & nurseries

Children attending these settings are given priority in this school's admissions.

Covingham Park Primary School

Primary

Nythe Primary School

Primary

Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

Interested in this school?Register interest and we'll pass your details on if it joins School Atlas.Register interest

This school hasn't claimed its profile yet, so it can't receive enquiries here. Leave your details and we'll pass them on if the school joins School Atlas.

The Dorcan Academy

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at The Dorcan Academy

The Dorcan Academy: key facts

Similar schools nearby

The Dorcan Academy

Connected nurseries & schools

Feeder schools & nurseries

Nearby schools within 5 km

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at The Dorcan Academy

The Dorcan Academy: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Connected nurseries & schools

Feeder schools & nurseries

Nearby schools within 5 km