SWINDON Academy is top of the charts for pupils making the most progress.

New Department for Education figures published today, show students at school make the most of any children in the town.

And the academy is well above the national average for the amount of progress students make between the end of primary school and the end of Year 11, known as Progress 8.

The group behind the academy United Learning’s other school Nova Hreod Academy also has a good standing in the tables.

Just over half (52 per cent) of students achieved a five or above in both English and maths – the second highest of any school in the town with Swindon Academy coming third with 49 per cent.

Executive principal of Swindon and Nova Hreod Academies Ruth Robinson said: “We are very pleased with both academies’ standings in these tables which demonstrate the added value that coming to these schools can make.

"Across both schools we have a clear culture of high expectations and encourage our students to go beyond what they think is possible for themselves.”

The picture for the rest of Swindon was a mixed bag.

The lowest ranked were St Luke and Crowdys Hill special schools, which both scored well below average on Progress 8.

The UTC, Abbey Park, and Lawn Manor, St Joseph's and Highworth Warnford were average.

Lydiard Park Academy and The Ridgeway School were above average.

Coun Mary Martin, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and school attainment, said: “Swindon Challenge has always been underpinned by a collective desire to improve attainment and outcomes for young people in Swindon and I have been greatly impressed by the commitment shown so far.

“Funding provided by the Council has allowed a number of schools to gain external expertise, share best practice and support each other to do the best for our school children.

"We will be looking for this to continue in other subjects so we set the bar even higher and ensure our schools are achieving aboveaverage."

The success for Swindon Academy is the latest in a line of accolades.

In November last year, it topped the GCSE performance tables for Swindon, with results that put it in the top 20 per cent of schools in the country.