Braunton Academy, Braunton

In its own words: "Our central aim is to inspire each child to ‘Aspire & Achieve’ ; to maximise success, achievement and personal fulfilment in all they do: by promoting and teaching our agreed values of the “Personal Learning and Thinking Skills”, r espect, character and c ommunity in a secure and purposeful environment which our young people find stimulating, respond to and enjoy."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I have grown up in North Devon all my life spending lots of time at the beach, even competing in surf lifesaving. I am a keen swimmer, having qualified for regionals growing up, and netball player but most of my free time is spent with my dog Maple-Jayne."

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 1 April 2027 and an open day on Saturday 22 May 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Braunton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Devon and 47 across England.

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

That is down from 53.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.22: 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 31.5, against 50.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Statistics, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 167 families put Braunton Academy as their first choice and 195 named it as one of their preferences, for 168 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Braunton Academy are Pilton Community College (3.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.8); and The Park Community School (5.1 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 47.5).

Braunton Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 2 of them.

Braunton Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.

202 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Braunton Academy (as of September 2025): 60% would recommend the school, 64% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (75%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).

Of the 143 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 78% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

15% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 162 pupils (19.6%) received SEN support and 25 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Braunton Academy.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Braunton Academy (adjacent), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 37 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Braunton Academy issued 271 suspensions, 32.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Braunton Academy are Southmead School (under 0.1 miles), Caen Community Primary School (0.5 miles) and Kingsacre Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.