Pilton Community College

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of THE HARBOUR SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

Chaddiford Lane, Barnstaple, EX31 1RB

01271 374381 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 28 February 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths45%England 45% · 2024/25
23rd highest of 41 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 54% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,165Room for 1,350 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,170 in 2019, 1,116 in 2021, 1,088 in 2022, 1,135 in 2023, 1,145 in 2024, 1,160 in 2025, 1,165 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0199 for 199 places, September 2026
Joint 9th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 61% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 28 February 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

225 pupils in this year group.

45% — about the same as the Devon average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 45% 46% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 46.4 45.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.1 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 33%This school 2023/24: 33%This school 2024/25: 45% This school England 45% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 33% 2024/25 45%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

215 pupils in this year group.

91% — about the same as the Devon average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 75%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 91% 92% 92%
School sixth form 1% 23% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 2% 13%
Further education college 75% 56% 37%
Apprenticeship 7% 6% 3%
Work 6% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%91%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Devon. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered199
Families who put it first199
Of those, offered a place199 (100%)
Families who listed it at all260

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Devon

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 9 places for autism; Physical disability. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolDevonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
9th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
28.4% 22.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.3% 4.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
13th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.8% 15.6%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
13th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 27% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.9% 5.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
30th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 13% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
11.2% 9.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
32nd lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 16% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
31.4% 26.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
33rd lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
56.3 36.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
40th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
16.5% 9.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils 0.26% 0.29% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 19th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 69% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.7 17.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
34th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.9 12.1 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
37th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 16% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
7.8% 14.4%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Pilton Community College's Ofsted rating?

Pilton Community College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 February 2023.

How did Pilton Community College do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 45% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.

Is Pilton Community College oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 199 families put Pilton Community College as their first choice for 199 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 199 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.