The Dean Academy

The Dean Academy is performing at the expected standard, with effective safeguarding measures in place that contribute to a positive and safe school environment. Attendance has improved and is now in line with national averages, and there is a clear commitment from leaders to continue enhancing student support, particularly for those facing barriers to learning. Positive relationships between staff and pupils, along with a consistent behaviour curriculum, contribute to a calm learning atmosphere. However, the school faces challenges in ensuring consistent teaching quality across all subjects, which impacts overall student achievement, particularly in assessments beyond English and mathematics. Although the school meets expected standards in several areas, there are pressing concerns about the inconsistency in teaching practices and the need for higher expectations in written work. The leadership team is aware of these challenges and is taking steps to improve the situation. It is essential for teachers to align their methods with the school's objectives and response strategies for varied learning needs to maximize student outcomes. The presence of the EPIC Resource Base for students with SEND demonstrates the school's commitment to inclusive education, yet further improvements are necessary to realize the full potential of all pupils.

Strengths

• Effective safeguarding measures promote a safe environment.
• Improved attendance in line with national averages.
• Positive relationships between staff and students foster a supportive atmosphere.
• Leadership is focused on raising the quality of teaching and student achievement.
• An ambitious approach to inclusion and tailored support for disadvantaged pupils.
• A strong personal development curriculum prepares students for adult life.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent teaching practices across the curriculum.
• Low expectations for the quality of pupils' written work.
• Staff do not effectively identify and address common errors in writing.
• Pupils' performance in subjects outside English and mathematics does not meet expected levels.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Dean Academy attended 91.7% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 24.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 6.8% of pupils at The Dean Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 2 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Dean Academy had 18.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 19.2% of pupils at The Dean Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 6.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has a SEN unit with 1 pupil and resourced provision with 10 pupils.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Dean Academy received £9,204 and spent £8,000 for each of its 736 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £69,000 (-£93 per pupil).

Across all 9 schools of The Athelstan Trust, income was £7,641 and spending £7,380 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Lydney · Gloucestershire local authority: places and applications

The Dean Academy is part of The Athelstan Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Leighterton Primary School Tetbury
• Chipping Sodbury School Bristol
• Avening Primary School Tetbury
• Sir William Romney's School Tetbury
• Malmesbury School Malmesbury
• Charter Primary School Chippenham
• Kings Lodge Primary School Chippenham
• Abbeyfield School Chippenham
• Bradon Forest School Swindon

What is The Dean Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Dean Academy is Needs attention, from an inspection in March 2026.

When was The Dean Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Dean Academy was last inspected in March 2026.

How many pupils does The Dean Academy have?

The Dean Academy has 816 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Dean Academy cover?

The Dean Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Dean Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 43.1, and 34% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Dean Academy?

The Dean Academy is at Church Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5DZ.