Great Torrington School
99%
Capacity
887
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Great Torrington School
Great Torrington School is a mixed state secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in Torridge, Devon, and it’s a school that local families clearly want to get into. With 887 pupils on roll against a capacity of 900, it’s running very close to full. The demand is real: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 225 applications for 170 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.32. Of those, 174 put it as their first preference, and 166 first-preference offers were made. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The school’s intake also reflects the area’s demographics — 24.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average for secondary schools and points to a genuinely comprehensive intake. There’s no sixth form here, so pupils leave at 16, and the school has no religious character.
Academically, Great Torrington delivers solid, if not spectacular, results. Its Progress 8 score of -0.1 means pupils achieve very slightly below the national average, but it’s in line with the Devon local authority average of -0.09. The school ranks 1st out of 4 schools in Torridge on Progress 8, and 18th out of 43 similar schools across the whole of Devon. Attainment 8 sits at 44.6, and 45.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics measure). The EBacc entry rate is 31%, with 21.8% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. Ofsted last inspected in 2022 and judged the school to remain Good, a rating it has held consistently since at least 2012. Leadership and management were also rated Good. The school’s Progress 8 banding is classed as ‘Average’, which feels like a fair summary.
The school is well equipped for a secondary of its size, with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, a theatre, science labs, music rooms, and a library. Sports provision is strong, with rowing, gymnastics, netball, and swimming on offer, plus clubs like debate, chess, and gardening. SEND support covers a broad range of needs, including dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, visual impairment, and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families in Torridge, this is a popular, oversubscribed option that serves a diverse local community. It’s not a high-flying grammar, but it’s a solid, well-regarded comprehensive that offers good facilities and a broad curriculum, and it’s clearly the top-ranked school in its immediate area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Calvesford Road, Torrington, Torridge, EX38 7DJ |
| Headteacher | Andrew Bloodworth |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 887 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.6% |
| School Capacity | 887 / 900 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Jul 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (6 Jul 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 22 Jun 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.10)
1768th of 3,141
Nationally
178th of 306
In South West
1st of 4
In Torridge
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
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 145 pupils).
- FE college77%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained5%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
95% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed170
225
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
174 families put this school as their 1st choice (77% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: gts.devon.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.9%
- Mixed2.6%
- White (other)1.8%
- Asian1.5%
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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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 Great Torrington School
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
Calvesford Road, Torrington
Torridge, EX38 7DJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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