The hardest schools to get into in Devon
Secondary: 335 families put St Peter's Church of England Aided School first in 2026 and 232 of them (69%) were offered a place.
Reception: 47 families put Uffculme Primary School first in 2026 and 29 of them (62%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Devon with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Peter's Church of England Aided School · Exeter · faith | 335 | 232 (69%) | 236 |
| 2 | Dartmouth Academy · Dartmouth | 45 | 34 (76%) | 36 |
| 3 | The King's School · Ottery St Mary | 218 | 165 (76%) | 167 |
| 4 | Uffculme School · Cullompton | 259 | 207 (80%) | 207 |
| 5 | Colyton Grammar School · Colyton · grammar (11-plus) | 196 | 157 (80%) | 158 |
| 6 | Chulmleigh Community College · Chulmleigh | 167 | 144 (86%) | 144 |
| 7 | King Edward VI Community College · Totnes | 179 | 161 (90%) | 173 |
| 8 | St James School · Exeter | 189 | 182 (96%) | 191 |
| 9 | Clyst Vale Community College · Exeter | 164 | 159 (97%) | 179 |
| 10 | Teign School · Newton Abbot | 202 | 198 (98%) | 203 |
| 11 | Kingsbridge Academy · Kingsbridge | 207 | 203 (98%) | 211 |
| 12 | South Dartmoor Community College · Ashburton | 160 | 159 (99%) | 182 |
| 13 | Bideford College · Bideford | 251 | 250 (100%) | 250 |
| 14 | Ivybridge Community College · Ivybridge | 351 | 351 (100%) | 376 |
| 15 | Exmouth Community College · Exmouth | 329 | 329 (100%) | 337 |
| 16 | The Park Community School · Barnstaple | 252 | 252 (100%) | 252 |
| 17 | West Exe School · Exeter | 230 | 230 (100%) | 239 |
| 18 | Pilton Community College · Barnstaple | 199 | 199 (100%) | 199 |
| 19 | Newton Abbot College · Newton Abbot | 176 | 176 (100%) | 198 |
| 20 | Okehampton College · Okehampton | 176 | 176 (100%) | 181 |
| 21 | Braunton Academy · Braunton | 167 | 167 (100%) | 168 |
| 22 | Axe Valley Academy · Axminster | 157 | 157 (100%) | 166 |
| 23 | Coombeshead Academy · Newton Abbot | 154 | 154 (100%) | 175 |
| 24 | Tavistock College · Tavistock | 150 | 150 (100%) | 169 |
| 25 | St Luke's Church of England School · Exeter · faith | 147 | 147 (100%) | 186 |
| 26 | Great Torrington School · Torrington | 144 | 144 (100%) | 148 |
| 27 | Queen Elizabeth's · Crediton | 141 | 141 (100%) | 154 |
| 28 | The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy · Ilfracombe · faith | 131 | 131 (100%) | 131 |
| 29 | Dawlish College · Dawlish | 122 | 122 (100%) | 129 |
| 30 | South Molton Community College · South Molton | 118 | 118 (100%) | 120 |
| 31 | Honiton Community College · Honiton | 113 | 113 (100%) | 138 |
| 32 | Cullompton Community College · Cullompton | 113 | 113 (100%) | 137 |
| 33 | Sidmouth College · Sidmouth | 106 | 106 (100%) | 122 |
| 34 | Cranbrook Education Campus · Exeter | 103 | 103 (100%) | 112 |
| 35 | Isca Academy · Exeter | 96 | 96 (100%) | 155 |
| 36 | Teignmouth Community School, Exeter Road · Teignmouth | 96 | 96 (100%) | 107 |
| 37 | Holsworthy Community College · Holsworthy | 95 | 95 (100%) | 97 |
| 38 | Matford Brook Academy · Exeter | 42 | 42 (100%) | 47 |
| 39 | Thomas Hall School · Exeter | 30 | 30 (100%) | 31 |
| 40 | Atlantic Academy · Bideford | 22 | 22 (100%) | 24 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Devon
What is the hardest school to get into in Devon?
For secondary places, 335 families put St Peter's Church of England Aided School first in 2026 and 232 of them (69%) were offered a place. For Reception, 47 families put Uffculme Primary School first and 29 of them (62%) were offered a place.
St Peter's Church of England Aided SchoolUffculme Primary School
How many families in Devon get their first-choice school?
93.3% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 96.5% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Devon published it in its admissions booklet.