Sidmouth College

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE TED WRAGG MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

Primley Road, Sidmouth, EX10 9LG

01395 514823 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card7 expectedSafeguarding met · 10 March 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths55%England 45% · 2024/25
8th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 74% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils825Room for 900 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 736 in 2019, 796 in 2021, 864 in 2022, 899 in 2023, 871 in 2024, 853 in 2025, 825 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9106 for 122 places, September 2026
36th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 34% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 10 March 2026 , published 14 May 2026.

In short: 7 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

142 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Devon comparisons use the 5 of its 43 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 38 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolDevonEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 36% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
73% 60% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 32% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
75% 65% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 32% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
65% 56% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 40 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 46% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
43% 33% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 127 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 47% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
69% 55% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 47 parents of children with SEND
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 32% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
47% 39% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 37% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
75%said yes 63% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 17%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Devon figures pool parents at the Devon schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

142 pupils in this year group.

55% — 9 points above the Devon average, and 10 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 55% 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. 45.9 45.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 37%This school 2023/24: 44%This school 2024/25: 55% This school England 45% 2022/23 37% 2023/24 44% 2024/25 55%

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.

150 pupils in this year group.

90% — 2 points below the Devon average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 32%47%
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. 90% 92% 92%
School sixth form 32% 23% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 2% 13%
Further education college 47% 56% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 6% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%90%

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

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

46 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Average A level grade C C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 13% 29% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 35% 55% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 28.8 34.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 29.4This school 2023/24: 27.7This school 2024/25: 28.8 This school England 35 2022/23 29.4 2023/24 27.7 2024/25 28.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

15 subjects, 113 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Geography 17 6% 6% 23%
Business Studies:Single 13 0% 8% 16%
Psychology 11 18% 18% 19%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 9 33% 33% 38%
Biology 8 13% 38% 27%
Sociology 8 0% 0% 20%
Chemistry 6 0% 33% 30%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 6 0% 0% 15%
Mathematics 6 0% 17% 40%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 6 0% 17% 14%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Photography), Physics, Religious Studies, English Literature, History.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

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

72 students in this year group.

83% — 3 points above the Devon average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 83% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 10% 7%
Work 38% 41% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
89%83%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

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

60 students in this year group.

67% — 16 points above the Devon average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 67% 51% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 27% 19% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
53%67%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered122
Families who put it first106
Of those, offered a place106 (100%)
Families who listed it at all194

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9

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

PupilsThis schoolDevonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
23rd highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
23.8% 22.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
18th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.2% 4.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
24th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.6% 15.6%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
27th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.2% 5.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 6th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 61% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.7% 9.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
Joint 8th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 60% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
21.6% 26.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
16th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
27.4 36.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
18th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.9% 9.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.23% 0.29% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
12th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 85% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.7 17.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 28th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.5 12.1 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
31st highest of 43 state secondary schools in Devon.
Higher than 27% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.8% 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.

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Sidmouth College's Ofsted rating?

Sidmouth College was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 10 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 7 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Sidmouth College do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 55% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Sidmouth College?

75% of the 142 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Sidmouth College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Sidmouth College oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 106 families put Sidmouth College as their first choice for 122 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 106 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.