Dawlish College
86%
Capacity
776
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Dawlish College
Dawlish College is a mixed state secondary for 11-16 year olds in Teignbridge, Devon, and it is currently a school in demand. With 776 pupils on roll against a capacity of 900, it is not yet full, but the admissions data for 2025/26 tells a clear story: the school received 160 applications for its 125 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.28. Of those, 122 were first-preference applications, and 122 first-preference offers were made, meaning almost every family who wanted it as their top choice got in. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 28.4%, which is significantly above the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage. Under headteacher Sam Banks, the school has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2019, and an ungraded inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained.
Academically, Dawlish College sits right on the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score is -0.09, which is identical to the Devon LA average for Progress 8, placing it squarely in the middle of the pack. The school ranks 17th out of 43 similar schools in the local authority. Its Attainment 8 score is 40.6, and 53.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 24.6% achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 16.1%, and just 8.5% of pupils entered the EBacc and achieved a grade 4 or above. The school's Progress 8 banding is rated as Average, and its strongest subject area is English, where Progress 8 is -0.03, while maths is slightly weaker at -0.13. Nationally, it ranks in the 56th percentile for Progress 8, and in the South West region it sits in the 57th percentile, placing it in the bottom half of schools regionally but not at the very bottom.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, science labs, art studios, music rooms, and a gymnasium, and its sports provision covers rugby, rowing, cricket, football, and gymnastics among others. Clubs include Book Club, Art Club, Model UN, Debate, and Gardening. For SEND, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health difficulties. Parent View responses from 130 respondents show a mixed picture: 55% would recommend the school, and 71% agree or strongly agree their child is happy, but only 34% agree that concerns are dealt with properly, and just 30% agree the school lets them know how their child is doing. This is a school that suits families who value a broad curriculum and good facilities, but who may need to be proactive in communication with staff.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Elm Grove Road, Dawlish, Teignbridge, EX7 0BY |
| Headteacher | Sam Banks |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 776 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.4% |
| School Capacity | 776 / 900 (86% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (27 Nov 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 30 Apr 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.09)
1755th of 3,141
Nationally
176th of 306
In South West
2nd of 7
In Teignbridge
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/234%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 107 pupils).
- FE college79%
- Employment8%
- Apprenticeship7%
- School sixth form (stay)4%
- Not sustained1%
98% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
130 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed125
160
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
122 families put this school as their 1st choice (76% 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.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.1%
- White (other)3.0%
- Asian1.7%
- Mixed1.7%
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 Dawlish 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
Elm Grove Road, Dawlish
Teignbridge, EX7 0BY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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