Kingsbridge Academy
89%
Capacity
1,248
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About Kingsbridge Academy
Kingsbridge Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2023, a change from its previous Outstanding rating in 2008. The inspection report awarded Good across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. The most telling academic metric for the school is its Progress 8 score of -0.28, which is below the national average. This means that, on average, pupils at Kingsbridge Academy achieve nearly a third of a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks 30th out of 43 similar schools in Devon on this measure, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 48.4, and just over half of pupils (53.1%) achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 74.7% achieving a grade 4 or above.
At A-level, the picture is more encouraging. Kingsbridge Academy’s sixth form has a value-added score of 0.07, meaning students make slightly better progress than the national average once prior attainment is taken into account. The average points per entry is 34.9, equivalent to a C+ grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B-. Around 14.5% of students achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 58.8%, though only 17.5% of pupils entered the full EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above. The local authority average Progress 8 score for Devon is -0.09, so Kingsbridge’s score of -0.28 places it below the LA norm. Compared with its previous inspection, the school has moved from Outstanding to Good, but the sixth form continues to perform solidly.
Kingsbridge Academy is a mixed secondary school in South Hams, Devon, with 1,248 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,407. It has a dedicated sixth-form centre and a wide range of facilities including science labs, art studios, a sports hall, tennis courts, and an ICT suite. The school offers a broad set of extracurricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a range of sports including rowing and swimming. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, there were 220 applications for 196 places, with 189 first-preference offers made. The school supports a significant number of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 12.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a broadly representative intake. This is a school that suits families who value a strong sixth form and a wide choice of clubs and sports, but who should be aware that GCSE progress is below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Balkwill Road, Kingsbridge, South Hams, TQ7 1PL |
| Headteacher | Tina Graham |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,248 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,248 / 1,407 (89% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 4 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.28)
2182nd of 3,141
Nationally
230th of 306
In South West
3rd of 4
In South Hams
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
43.1
'22/23
40.6
'23/24
34.9
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
2022/2357%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 204 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)57%
- FE college26%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained3%
96% 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
2022/2336%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 117 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
17%
Top-third HE
1%
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.
- Employment41%
- University (HE)36%
- Not sustained10%
- 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- Biology34
- Mathematics31
- History24
- Geography22
- Psychology22
- Chemistry19
- English Language17
- Logic / Philosophy15
- Physics13
- Business Studies:Single12
- Film Studies12
- English Literature10
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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed196
220
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
189 families put this school as their 1st choice (86% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.7%
- White (other)5.4%
- Mixed1.8%
- 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
2
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Kingsbridge Academy
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
Balkwill Road, Kingsbridge
South Hams, TQ7 1PL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Kingsbridge Academy!
Write a Review