Axe Valley Academy

About Axe Valley Academy

Axe Valley Academy in East Devon has been rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.4 is the most telling academic metric, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally and ranking it 34th out of 43 similar schools in the Devon local authority. This score means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly half a grade less per subject than their peers across England, and it sits below the Devon local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.09. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 40.2 further reflects this, with 36.5% of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths. While the school has made clear progress in its leadership and behaviour since the last inspection, the academic outcomes for its 757 pupils remain an area where improvement is still needed.

Breaking down the Progress 8 figures, the picture is mixed. Pupils in maths actually performed exactly in line with the national average, with a Progress 8 score of 0.01, which is a real strength. However, English was below average at -0.31, and the open element (which includes subjects like humanities and languages) was notably weaker at -0.73. The EBacc average point score was 3.43, and only 21.7% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects, with just 4.3% achieving a grade 5 or above in that suite. The school’s Ofsted inspectors rated behaviour and attitudes as Good, and personal development also as Good, suggesting that while exam results are below the national average, the school provides a stable and supportive environment. With 29.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage, which may partly contextualise the attainment figures.

The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, receiving 199 applications for 140 places, with 141 first-preference applications and 136 offers made to first-preference families. Facilities are notably strong for a state secondary, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a chapel, alongside dedicated art studios and ICT suites. Sports provision is broad, covering football, hockey, rugby, tennis, cricket, gymnastics, rowing, and martial arts, and there is a good range of clubs such as Model UN, coding, orchestra, and Young Enterprise. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Axe Valley Academy is a secondary-only school with no sixth form, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. It will suit parents who value the improved pastoral and behavioural standards and the wide facilities, but who are realistic about the current academic performance relative to the national average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Axe Valley Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents