Pilton Community College
86%
Capacity
1,160
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Pilton Community College
Pilton Community College has been rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The school's Progress 8 score of -0.23 is the single most informative exam metric, placing it in the 'Below average' banding nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieved slightly less progress than their peers across England, though the score sits within a confidence interval ranging from -0.41 to -0.04, indicating some uncertainty around the precise figure. Within the local authority of Devon, the school ranks 25th out of 43 similar secondary schools, and in the North Devon area specifically, it places 5th out of 6 schools. The school's Attainment 8 score of 41.5 reflects the average grade achieved across eight key subjects, while 51.5% of pupils secured a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
Looking deeper at the academic breakdown, the school's Progress 8 score is dragged down by maths (-0.3) and English (-0.32), while the open element (non-EBacc subjects) is closer to average at -0.12. The EBacc average point score sits at 3.59, and only 38% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects, with 18.6% achieving a grade 4 or above in that suite. This is below the Devon local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.09, suggesting the school is performing slightly behind its regional peers. The Ofsted inspectors rated all key areas as Good, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. For families focused on academic outcomes, this is a school that has stabilised after a period of improvement but still has ground to make up compared with the strongest local options, such as Colyton Grammar School or Chulmleigh Community College.
The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 330 applications for 229 places, with 228 first-preference offers made. It serves a community with 28% of pupils eligible for free school meals, above the national average, and caters for a wide range of special educational needs, including support for dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, science labs, and a library, while extracurricular offerings range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to eco club and gardening. There is no sixth form, so pupils will need to move on at 16. This is a solid, improving comprehensive that suits families in North Devon who want a broad curriculum and strong pastoral support, but who are realistic about its current academic standing relative to the highest-performing schools in the county.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Chaddiford Lane, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX31 1RB |
| Headteacher | Danny Heaton |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,160 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,160 / 1,350 (86% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 2 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.23)
2087th of 3,141
Nationally
216th of 306
In South West
5th of 6
In North Devon
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
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 241 pupils).
- FE college78%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship5%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
93% 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed229
330
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
228 families put this school as their 1st choice (69% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Source: piltoncollege.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.6%
- Asian3.6%
- Mixed3.4%
- White (other)3.1%
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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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 Pilton 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
Chaddiford Lane, Barnstaple
North Devon, EX31 1RB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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