Classpot

Bideford College

Torridge, EX39 3ARSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2022
Progress 8
-0.24
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
267 1st-choice / 276 places
Ranking
#2,113
of 3,141 nationally

About Bideford College

Bideford College is a large mixed secondary school in the Torridge district of Devon, serving 1,447 pupils aged 11 to 18. Within the local authority, it ranks 26th out of 43 same-type schools on Progress 8, placing it in the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in the area are Colyton Grammar School, Chulmleigh Community College, and The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy, all of which score significantly higher on the same measure. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 297 applications for 276 places and 267 first-preference offers, suggesting it holds solid local appeal. Headteacher Claire Ankers leads a school that has seen a clear improvement trajectory: its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision. This marks a notable upgrade from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was judged to Require Improvement overall.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressAbbotsham Road, Bideford, Torridge, EX39 3AR
HeadteacherClaire Ankers
Local AuthorityDevon
Number of Pupils1,447
Free School Meals (FSM)28.3%
School Capacity1,447 / 2,232 (65% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

7 Jun 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 31 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-Sensory

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Bideford College

Bideford College has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.