Bideford College, Bideford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Bideford College provides a strong, ambitious curriculum with teachers who know their subjects well. The school excels at enriching pupils' experiences through its character curriculum, outdoor activities, sports, and drama programmes. Post-16 students benefit from excellent careers support and achieve results above the national average in several measures.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well in examinations, with post-16 results above national average in some measures
- Strong personal development programme including drama, sports, residentials and outdoor activities like Ten Tors
- Effective careers education and guidance helping students understand post-16 options and vocational routes
- Well-sequenced curriculum in most subjects with teachers having good subject knowledge
- Safeguarding standards met with open, positive culture where concerns are actively managed
Areas for Improvement
- Attendance rates significantly above national average, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- High suspension rates for pupils with special educational needs despite recent improvements
- Some teaching not effective enough at identifying pupil misconceptions or errors
- Leaders' support for pupils facing barriers to learning has been limited in impact
- Weaker relationships with some parents undermining trust and partnership
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards met - the school has created an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are met and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Drama performances, creative writing club, volleyball, netball, football, Ten Tors, residentials, outdoor activities, school council, parliament week, leadership roles, charity work, sports activities, work experience, careers fair
Bideford College is a secondary school where most pupils achieve in line with national averages and are well prepared for their next steps. However, the school faces significant challenges with pupil attendance and support for vulnerable learners.
At a Glance
27.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
25.9
Avg class size
54
Total classes
21 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
65%
Available places
1,455 pupils
2,232 capacity
777 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bideford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bideford
Admissions Demand - Devon
Places available
8,027
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Secondary admissions across Devon (2025/26)
Inspection History(103)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.26377%
Overall absence
29.42462%
Persistent absence
1,373
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Bideford College
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