Okehampton College
79%
Capacity
1,137
Pupils
1.0x
Demand
About Okehampton College
Okehampton College’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated the school as Requires Improvement across all areas, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This marks a significant shift from its previous inspection in 2014, where it was judged Outstanding overall. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year sits at -0.24, which is below the national average and places it in the bottom 50 tier nationally. Within Devon, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.09, meaning Okehampton College’s results are also below the typical progress made by pupils across the county. The Attainment 8 score of 43.6 and the basics measure (a grade 5 or above in English and maths) at 46.3 per cent give a clear picture of where the school currently stands academically.
Looking more closely at the exam data, the school’s Progress 8 banding is classified as below average, with the strongest subject area being maths, where the progress score is -0.04, close to the national average. English progress is weaker at -0.27, and the open element of the Progress 8 measure is -0.4. The EBacc entry rate is 27.5 per cent, with 19.2 per cent of pupils achieving the EBacc at a grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the value added score is -0.06, which is banded as average, and the average points per entry is 29.59, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average grade is also a C, with 2.7 per cent of pupils achieving AAB or higher. In the local context, the school ranks 27th out of 43 secondary schools in Devon by Progress 8, placing it in the lower half of the authority.
Okehampton College is a mixed, non-selective state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 18, with a current roll of 1,137 against a capacity of 1,437. It is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 194 total applications for 190 places and 181 first-preference offers. The school has a broad range of facilities, including a sixth form centre, swimming pool, theatre, and music and art studios. It offers a wide selection of sports and clubs, from athletics and rugby to chess, drama, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school provides for a substantial number of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and physical disabilities. With 19.7 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. This is a school that has seen a notable drop in its Ofsted rating and is working to improve outcomes, particularly in core subjects, while offering a full secondary and sixth-form experience in a rural Devon setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Mill Road, Okehampton, West Devon, EX20 1PW |
| Headteacher | Gareth Smith |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,137 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,137 / 1,437 (79% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 28 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.24)
2092nd of 3,141
Nationally
217th of 306
In South West
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
29.5
'23/24
29.6
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
2022/2335%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 240 pupils).
- FE college48%
- School sixth form (stay)35%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained2%
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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2340%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 97 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
19%
Russell Group
18%
Top-third HE
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)40%
- Employment39%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Further education2%
- Other education2%
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- Geography26
- Biology22
- Sociology18
- Mathematics15
- Psychology12
- English Literature11
- History11
- Chemistry10
- Media/Film/Tv Studies9
- Art and Design (Photography)8
- Physics6
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed190
194
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
181 families put this school as their 1st choice (93% 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 British90.1%
- White (other)3.6%
- Mixed2.3%
- Asian0.4%
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.
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 Okehampton 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
Mill Road, Okehampton
West Devon, EX20 1PW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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