Lavington School Review 2026: Rural Wiltshire Secondary with a Growing Sixth Form

Outcomes at GCSE sit in a broadly solid bracket on the England picture, with some indicators notably above average.

Ranked 1,509th in England and 2nd in the Devizes area for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data)

This places performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), a useful marker for families who want dependable results without an ultra selective intake.

On headline measures, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 51. Progress 8 is 0.32, which indicates students, on average, make above average progress from their starting points. The EBacc average point score is 4.3, and 16.6% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above across the EBacc subject suite.

Sixth form performance data is more limited in the published comparative set, so the better lens for post 16 is the breadth of courses, the quality of guidance, and whether the subject combination your child wants is timetabled each year.

Parents comparing nearby schools can use the FindMySchool local hub comparison tools to place these GCSE measures alongside other Wiltshire options, using the same methodology across schools.

Curriculum intent and sequencing are clearly foregrounded on the school website, with subject pages outlining what is studied and how learning is checked.

In English, for example, Key Stage 3 outlines specific texts and units, including A Christmas Carol, The Tempest, and The Bone Sparrow as part of the programme of study, alongside crime writing and poetry and non fiction units. That level of specificity usually signals a department that has made deliberate choices about progression and reading breadth.

Mathematics and sciences are similarly presented through curriculum maps and structured pathways, and the school explicitly references additional support for pupils who enter Year 7 with weaker literacy or numeracy foundations, including small group tutoring and supported homework provision.

The most recent inspection also highlights curriculum review as ongoing and broadly well matched to pupils’ needs, with careers provision described as good quality and work experience in place for Year 10.

Where improvement is still needed is also clear. The inspection report flags inconsistency in how assessment is used in some subjects to identify misconceptions, which matters because early identification is often the difference between a pupil consolidating quickly and quietly falling behind.

For many families, the key transition decision is not only Year 11, but also whether to stay into the sixth form.

The sixth form offer is now substantial. The current published A level list includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology, Sociology, English Literature, History, Geography, French, Spanish, Music, Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics, Business, Art, plus Core Maths and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

University preparation is visibly built into the sixth form structure. The school publishes dedicated guidance on UCAS and on Oxford and Cambridge applications, including the expectation of admissions tests and interview preparation, and an enhanced support route for interested applicants.

Because the school does not publish a consistent set of destination statistics in the same way some larger sixth forms do, the best approach for families is practical due diligence. Ask what proportion typically stay on from Year 11, how many external applicants join Year 12, and whether smaller A level classes run every year or depend on cohort demand.

Year 7 entry is coordinated by Wiltshire Council, and the school publishes the full timetable for the 2026 intake.

Key dates for September 2026 entry are set out as follows: the application portal opens 1 September 2025, the national closing date is 31 October 2025, offer day is 2 March 2026, and the deadline to accept an offered place is 16 March 2026. The same timetable also lists an exceptional circumstances deadline of 16 December 2025 for certain late changes such as a completed house move.

The school also describes transition activity as a process rather than a single event, with several steps: Year 5 taster sessions and open mornings in the summer term, a formal open evening in September, and Year 6 induction days later in the school year. Specific event dates can vary, so families should check the school’s current calendar nearer the time.

Families who want to understand how realistic admission is from their address should use the FindMySchool map distance tools alongside the school’s oversubscription criteria, because annual demand patterns can shift even within the same village cluster.

The pastoral picture is unusually well documented for a state secondary, with multiple dedicated wellbeing pages covering bullying, counselling, mental health signposting, and medical support routes.

For students who prefer digital access, the school signposts Kooth, an anonymous online counselling and support service commissioned locally, including access to drop in chats and one to one sessions. That can be a meaningful option for teenagers who find it easier to begin with online support than an in person conversation.

The anti bullying stance is framed in values language, stressing consistency and everyday reinforcement rather than one off assemblies. This is backed by the wider inspection narrative that behaviour supports learning and that pupils trust staff to resolve issues promptly.

Inspectors also noted that pupils report feeling safe and that safeguarding is taken seriously, including appropriate recruitment checks and leadership capacity in safeguarding practice.

Enrichment is described in practical, time bound terms, which matters because it tells parents what can realistically fit around transport and homework.

The school publishes a structured programme of PE extracurricular clubs, with after school clubs running 3.20pm to 4.20pm and a weekly timetable that includes specific year group sport sessions such as Year 7 rugby, Year 9 to 11 netball, cross country, and basketball. For students, the implication is routine and habit, rather than occasional participation. For parents, it offers predictable pick up planning.

STEM activity is also explicitly referenced, including a STEM club linked to science enrichment. For students leaning towards sciences, computing, or engineering, this can provide low pressure extension beyond lessons, often where confidence and curiosity build fastest.

Outdoor education is present through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, with Bronze level guidance and expedition planning resources listed. This kind of programme tends to suit students who grow through structured independence, teamwork, and responsibility beyond the classroom.

Music and performance are visible through departmental provision and student activity signposting, including a named Juke Box Music Club page, alongside drama as a taught subject with a stated focus on creativity and communication.

The school day is published in a periodised structure. Registration starts at 8.35am, with Period 1 running 8.45am to 9.45am, and the final lesson ending at 3.15pm.

Transport guidance is also clearly set out. The school notes that free school transport may be available for Year 7 to 11 students who live more than three miles away within the council’s transport catchment area, with a lower threshold of two miles for some pupils eligible through specific criteria. Families should check eligibility directly against current Wiltshire Council rules before assuming support.

• Assessment consistency across subjects. The latest inspection points to some variation in how effectively assessment is used to spot misconceptions. For families, it is worth asking how the school checks understanding in the subjects your child finds hardest.

• EBacc outcomes versus overall progress. Progress 8 is positive, but EBacc grade 5 and above attainment is relatively modest at 16.6%. Students aiming for a strongly academic language and humanities pathway may want to ask how languages are supported through Key Stage 4.

• Sixth form delivery details matter. The A level list is broad, but the practical experience depends on option blocks, class sizes, and whether courses run every year. Ask how the timetable is built and what happens if a subject is oversubscribed or undersubscribed.

• Rural logistics. After school clubs run to 4.20pm on published timetables, which can be a constraint if your child relies on specific bus services or shared lifts. It is sensible to plan around transport first, then add enrichment.

Lavington School offers a stable, well structured secondary education with a calm tone, a clear transition programme, and an increasingly mature sixth form proposition. GCSE performance sits in a solid mid England band, supported by above average progress, and the school communicates curriculum and wellbeing support with unusual clarity.

It best suits families who want a grounded, community linked school in rural Wiltshire, where students can access both academic breadth and a practical enrichment programme without an overly intense, exam only culture. The key decision points are admissions timing for Year 7, and for older students, whether the sixth form’s course combinations align with their intended pathway.