Bideford College, Bideford

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Bideford College on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, typically achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of curriculum and teaching."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils have a suitable range of opportunities to develop their talents and interests."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that the post-16 programme of study is suitable and meets the needs of students."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' rates of absence are consistently significantly above the national average."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders typically identify and assess the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) accurately."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "In some areas of the school's work, leaders' actions do not lead to quick enough improvement, particularly for pupils who face barriers to learning and/or wellbeing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that they gain rigorous insights into the impact of the school's work to support pupils who face barriers to learning and/or wellbeing, so that they can make swift and effective improvements when they are needed"; "Leaders should improve pupils' attendance, particularly pupils with SEND and pupils who are disadvantaged. They should ensure that teaching closes the gaps in pupils' knowledge and skills which result from missed learning"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment effectively across all subjects, so that they check what pupils know and adapt teaching accordingly"; "Leaders should build constructive relationships with all parents, so that parents have confidence in the school's work, and pupils are supported to belong and thrive".

In its own words: "Welcome to Bideford College, located in the beautiful coastal town of Bideford. Our state-of-the-art facilities provide the perfect environment for our students to thrive and achieve their best. At Bideford College, we strive for excellence in teaching and learning."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 4.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Bideford College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Devon and 47 across England.

41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Devon and 47% in England.

That is down from 45.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.24: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.3, against 47.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 251 families put Bideford College as their first choice and 275 named it as one of their preferences, for 250 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

Bideford College is one of 9 schools run by Athena Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4 in 2024/25.

Of the 234 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 85 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 39% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 33% into work. 11% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Bideford College.

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is College (sw-bound), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 135 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Bideford College issued 736 suspensions, 50.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Bideford College are West Croft School (0.4 miles), St Mary's CofE Primary School (0.9 miles), St Helens Church of England Academy (1.2 miles) and East-the-Water Community Primary School (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.