Bideford College
65%
Capacity
1,447
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
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.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.24 is below the Devon local authority average of -0.09, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 42.5, and 65% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that figure drops to 41.9% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is high at 67.5%, but only 30.8% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is brighter: the value-added score of 0.24 is rated Above average, with pupils averaging 34.21 points per entry (equivalent to a C+ grade). The best three A-levels average a B- grade, and 17.9% of entries achieved AAB or higher. Progress in maths and English at KS4 is broadly in line with expectations, though the open element of Progress 8 is notably weaker at -0.64.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers netball, rowing, martial arts, and rugby, while extracurricular clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and a debate society. SEND support is comprehensive, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With a capacity of 2,232 but only 1,447 pupils on roll, there is room for growth, and the school is not yet at full capacity. Bideford College will suit families looking for a large, improving secondary with a strong sixth form and good facilities, particularly those who value the breadth of extracurricular opportunities and the recent Ofsted upgrade. Its below-average Progress 8 at KS4 means it may not be the first choice for families prioritising top academic outcomes at GCSE, but the sixth-form value added is a clear strength.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Abbotsham Road, Bideford, Torridge, EX39 3AR |
| Headteacher | Claire Ankers |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,447 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,447 / 2,232 (65% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 31 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.24)
2113th of 3,141
Nationally
220th of 306
In South West
2nd of 4
In Torridge
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.0
'22/23
28.0
'23/24
34.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2333%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 190 pupils).
- FE college38%
- School sixth form (stay)33%
- Apprenticeship13%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment6%
92% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2345%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 80 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
30%
Russell Group
30%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)45%
- Employment35%
- Not sustained9%
- Further education5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology27
- Biology16
- History13
- Mathematics13
- Geography10
- Economics9
- English Language9
- Chemistry7
- Physics7
- English Literature6
- Design and Technology (Product Design)5
- Art and Design4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed276
297
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
267 families put this school as their 1st choice (90% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.8%
- White (other)2.6%
- Mixed2.4%
- Asian1.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bideford College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Abbotsham Road, Bideford
Torridge, EX39 3AR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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