Holsworthy Community College
89%
Capacity
535
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About Holsworthy Community College
Holsworthy Community College is a mixed state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, currently home to 535 students against a capacity of 600. That leaves a modest buffer of 65 unfilled places, but the school is nonetheless oversubscribed for entry in 2025/26: it received 122 applications for 110 places, with 106 of those coming as first preferences. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 29.3%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and suggests the college serves a community with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. The school sits in Torridge, a rural district in Devon, and its intake reflects the demographic realities of the area. With no sixth form on site, students must move on elsewhere after Year 11, which may be a practical consideration for families planning long-term.
Academically, the school's Progress 8 score of -0.32 is below average nationally and places it 32nd out of 43 schools in the Devon local authority. That puts it behind the LA average of -0.09, and well behind top local performers like Colyton Grammar School. The Attainment 8 score of 38.4 is modest, and only 24.8% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 52.5% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 36.6%, with 17.8% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or better. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2014, the school was rated Good overall, with Good leadership and management, and a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Good. That marks a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2012.
The school offers a decent range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a chapel, alongside clubs such as choir, art, science, and drama. Sports provision is broad, with rowing, martial arts, gymnastics, and athletics among the options. SEND support is well-documented, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families considering Holsworthy, the key trade-off is clear: it is a genuinely inclusive school serving a high-needs population, with improving Ofsted ratings, but its academic outcomes are below the Devon average and it ranks bottom of the four schools in Torridge by Progress 8. It will suit parents who prioritise a supportive, well-resourced environment over top-tier exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Victoria Hill, Holsworthy, Torridge, EX22 6JD |
| Headteacher | Andrew Sweeney |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 535 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.3% |
| School Capacity | 535 / 600 (89% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (15 Jun 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 27 Feb 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.32)
2278th of 3,141
Nationally
243rd of 306
In South West
4th 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/237%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 96 pupils).
- FE college53%
- Sixth form college14%
- Apprenticeship13%
- Not sustained8%
- School sixth form (stay)7%
- Employment4%
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed110
122
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
106 families put this school as their 1st choice (87% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:10
Source: hcc.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 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.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British93.3%
- Mixed2.1%
- White (other)1.5%
- Asian0.6%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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 Holsworthy Community 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
Victoria Hill, Holsworthy
Torridge, EX22 6JD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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