Ditton Park Academy Review 2026: Inclusive Slough secondary with sixth form and strong pastoral structures

This is a large, mixed 11 to 19 academy serving the Kings Reach area of Slough, with a clear identity built around inclusion, community participation, and structured support. Pupils are described in official reporting as proud of their school, with calm day to day conduct and strong relationships with staff. The sixth form is a notable feature of the offer, with a dedicated centre and an emphasis on preparation for next steps, including applications and interviews.

Academically, outcomes are mixed across phases. GCSE performance sits broadly in line with the middle of schools in England, while A-level outcomes sit lower relative to England benchmarks. What this means for families is that fit matters: pupils who benefit from clear routines, a tutoring structure, and consistent pastoral oversight may find the overall experience strong, even if they are not choosing purely on headline post 16 grades.

A defining theme here is belonging, across a diverse intake. Official reporting describes pupils from a wide range of backgrounds mixing happily, with discrimination not tolerated and pupils feeling safe and supported. That detail matters because it speaks to the everyday: students who need a settled social environment, or who are moving from a primary where they felt “different”, often do best where inclusion is practical rather than rhetorical.

A second theme is structure. The academy operates a house system and a tutoring programme that shapes personal development across year groups, including the sixth form. The implication for parents is straightforward: children who like clear routines and known adults tend to benefit, while pupils who struggle with organisation can often improve when there is a consistent framework for checking in, tracking effort, and addressing small issues early.

A third theme is pupil voice in practice. Leadership responsibility is not confined to a small group of older students. Pupils and sixth-form students are reported as taking active roles in school and in the local community, including organising charity fundraising and running events such as a school culture day. This suggests a school that wants students to do more than comply, it wants them to contribute. For some teenagers, that provides a positive identity that extends beyond grades.

At GCSE level, Ditton Park Academy is ranked 1,500th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), and 13th in Slough. This sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), which is typically experienced by families as “solid, with strengths depending on subject and teacher”.

The reported Progress 8 score is +0.06, indicating slightly above average progress from students’ starting points. Attainment 8 is 49. The percentage achieving grade 5 or above in EBacc subjects is 17.5, and the EBacc average point score is 4.59. Taken together, this points to a school where progress is not a concern overall, but where EBacc outcomes may be less central to the profile than in some local alternatives.

At A-level, the school is ranked 2,213th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), and 11th in Slough. This places the sixth form below England average relative to other sixth forms. The A-level grade profile shows 1.68% at A*, 7.07% at A, 19.87% at B, and 28.62% at A* to B, compared with an England average of 47.2% at A* to B.

The practical implication is that post 16 students should choose courses carefully and focus on the quality of support and study habits, not simply the existence of a sixth form. For many students, a structured sixth form with strong guidance can still be the right choice, especially when combined with realistic course selection and consistent attendance.

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to place these GCSE and A-level outcomes side by side with nearby schools in Slough.

Teaching is described in official reporting as enthusiastic and clear, with staff using consistent routines to help pupils recall important knowledge. Where curriculum plans are strongest, pupils are reported as showing effort and pride in their work, which is a good indicator of classroom culture.

Two curriculum priorities stand out. First, leaders have been determined to promote modern foreign languages and, in earlier reporting, emphasised ensuring pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum as the school expanded. Second, reading has been a development focus, including the introduction of a phonics programme for weaker readers, alongside broader work on reading across the curriculum. For parents of pupils entering Year 7 with literacy gaps, the existence of a defined approach is reassuring, though the most recent official reporting also indicates that some initiatives were still at an early stage at the time of inspection.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is another key strand. Leaders have reorganised the use of learning support staff to create more targeted in-class support, and staff training is described as helping teachers understand needs. The area to watch, however, is consistent adaptation in lessons, which is identified as a development point. For families of children with SEND, this suggests the basics are in place, but it is sensible to ask how the school ensures subject teachers translate plans into day to day classroom practice.

Because detailed Russell Group destination figures are not published in the sources accessed for this review, the most reliable picture comes from reported destination data and the school’s Oxbridge pipeline.

For the 2023 to 2024 leavers cohort, 66% progressed to university. Apprenticeships accounted for 4%, employment 14%, and further education 1%. This pattern indicates that university is the primary route, but that employment and apprenticeships also form meaningful pathways, which is often a positive sign for a genuinely comprehensive sixth form rather than one focused only on a narrow academic track.

Oxbridge numbers are small but present. In the measurement period, two students applied to Cambridge, one secured an offer, and one accepted. The practical implication is that highly academic routes exist, but they are not the defining story of the sixth form. For most students, the value will come from consistent guidance, subject choices that match strengths, and preparation for applications, interviews, and sustained independent study.

Year 7 admissions are coordinated by Slough Borough Council rather than by the academy directly. For September 2026 entry, the on time application deadline was 31 October 2025, with national offer day on 02 March 2026 and an acceptance deadline of 15 March 2026. Families applying in future years should expect the same annual rhythm: applications open in early September, close at the end of October, and offers arrive in early March.

Demand is best understood using the local authority’s preference data rather than informal reputation. In the Slough secondary admissions booklet, Ditton Park Academy shows a Published Admission Number of 180 and 766 total preferences recorded on allocation day (01 March 2025 allocations data). This is a useful signal of popularity, even though “preferences” are not the same as completed applications. The practical implication is that families should treat this as a competitive choice and include a balanced set of preferences on the council form.

Open events vary by school year to year. For the 2026 to 2027 admissions cycle, the council booklet advises families to contact Ditton Park Academy directly for open mornings and evenings, rather than listing a fixed date. If you are planning for a future Year 7 intake, open events in Slough typically run in early autumn, and booking requirements can change.

For sixth form admissions, applications are made directly to the school rather than through the local authority. Families should confirm subject entry requirements and application timelines with the sixth form team, especially if applying from another secondary school.

Parents assessing catchment practicality should use FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance and travel time, then sanity check against the council’s admissions criteria for that year.

The school’s pastoral model is one of its clearer strengths. Official reporting highlights strong relationships between staff and pupils, high expectations of behaviour, and a calm working atmosphere including in the sixth form centre. Bullying is described as rare and dealt with promptly, and pupils are said to trust pastoral staff to help when problems arise.

The house system and tutoring programme are central mechanisms for this. In practice, that often means pupils have at least two layers of support: subject teachers in the classroom, plus a known adult who monitors patterns over time. For teenagers, that second layer is where issues like attendance drift, friendship problems, low confidence, or inconsistent homework habits are more likely to be noticed early.

Safeguarding is reported as effective, with a well established safeguarding culture and systems that follow up concerns quickly. This matters because it shapes the speed and seriousness with which issues are handled, including online safety, peer conflict, and external risks.

Co-curricular life here is closely tied to personal development and confidence building, rather than simply “activities for the CV”.

One strand is performance and creativity. Earlier official reporting describes drama enrichment activity after school, with pupils gathering for sessions and engaging with scripts and rehearsal routines. The implication is that there are structured opportunities for students who gain confidence through performance, teamwork, and public presentation, even if they are not the loudest voices in class.

A second strand is leadership and service. Student leadership is described through formal responsibilities and practical community activity, including charity fundraising and events such as a culture day led by sixth-form students. For many pupils, especially in a diverse setting, these activities can be the space where identity, pride, and friendships form most strongly.

A third strand is debate and wider literacy. The personal, social, health and economic education programme is reported as including topics students see as relevant, with pupils enjoying debating topical issues in a respectful way. This is a meaningful indicator because it signals that speaking, listening, and reasoning are valued, not only written outcomes. It can be particularly helpful for pupils who need structured practice in arguing a point, handling disagreement, and forming views with evidence.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual secondary costs, such as uniform, optional trips, and any paid enrichment.

Term dates for Slough’s 2026 to 2027 school year are published by the local authority, but academies can vary dates. The published pattern shows autumn term beginning on 01 September 2026 and ending 18 December 2026, with spring term running 04 January 2027 to 09 April 2027, and summer term running 12 April 2027 to 21 July 2027. If holiday planning matters, confirm the academy’s own calendar before booking travel.

For travel, practicalities depend on your exact starting point in Slough and nearby areas. Families should test the route at school commute time and confirm arrangements for late buses or after school activities where relevant.

• Post 16 outcomes are the main academic caveat. A-level outcomes sit below England benchmarks relative to other sixth forms. Students considering sixth form should discuss subject choices, study expectations, and what support looks like week to week.

• SEND support is improving, but consistency matters. Official reporting highlights targeted support and staff training, alongside a development point around adapting teaching consistently in classrooms. Families of pupils with SEND should ask how plans are implemented across subjects.

• Admissions are competitive in local context. The local authority recorded 766 preferences for 180 places on allocation day data, which signals high demand. A balanced preference list remains sensible even for families who feel this is the right fit.

Ditton Park Academy is best understood as a structured, inclusive Slough secondary with a clear pastoral framework and meaningful student leadership opportunities. GCSE outcomes are broadly in line with the middle of schools in England, while sixth form outcomes are weaker relative to England averages, so course choice and student readiness for independent study matter more than the label “sixth form”. Best suited to families who value inclusion, consistent routines, and strong pastoral oversight, and who want a school where students can build confidence through leadership, community activity, and enrichment alongside their main curriculum.