Brixham College, Brixham

Requires Improvement
Secondary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Miss Rebecca Blackshaw
Pupils:1,012 / 1,050 capacity
LA:Torbay
Phone:03333602250
Address:Higher Ranscombe Road, Brixham, TQ5 9HF
Trust:THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 January 2012

Ofsted Rating

Requires Improvement

Overall

URN:137755
UKPRN:10035994
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:South Devon
Urban/Rural:Urban: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Brixham College excels at creating a supportive learning environment with strong reading programs and an impressive range of sporting opportunities including rowing. The school has developed excellent careers support, helping students make informed decisions about their futures. Leaders prioritize the wellbeing of vulnerable pupils, including looked-after children, ensuring they receive tailored pastoral and academic support.

Key Strengths

  • Comprehensive values curriculum helping pupils understand the world and reflect on relationships
  • Well-organized careers program preparing pupils for work and university
  • Strong reading support from Year 7 onwards
  • Ambitious range of sports and extracurricular activities reflecting local environment
  • Effective support for looked-after children and those known to social care

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupil achievement in national tests has been below average for two years
  • Overall attendance remains well below national average with high persistent absence rates
  • Writing skills not developed sufficiently - many pupils lack fluency and accuracy
  • Support for pupils with SEND has been unreliable and inconsistent
  • High suspension rates due to pupils not meeting behavior expectations

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled, helping pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Rowing, sports, music clubs, dance clubs, The MMADD Show (annual music and dance showcase), philosophy and ethics lessons, work-related learning programs

Brixham College is a secondary school in Devon that is undergoing significant change as new leadership works to raise standards. The school has faced sustained challenges in pupil achievement, attendance, and behavior, but is now implementing improvements with support from its trust.

At a Glance

32.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

21.5

Avg class size

46

Total classes

7 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Ferry Terminals

Brixham Ferry Landing (Quay)
559m · 9 min walk
Brixham Harbour Boarding Stage (Quay)
581m · 9 min walk

Bus Stops

Community College (opp)
89m · 1 min walk
Great Rea Road (NE-bound)
180m · 3 min walk
Centry Road (SW-bound)
193m · 3 min walk
Astley Park (W-bound)
288m · 5 min walk
Rea Barn Road (E-bound)
309m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

96%

Near capacity

1,012 pupils

1,050 capacity

38 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Brixham

High pressure
New homes approved:224
Projected new pupils:40

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Brixham

Admissions Demand - Torbay

Low demand0.78x oversubscription

Places available

1,755

Applications

1,375

Got 1st preference

79.4%

Got preferred school

92.8%

Secondary admissions across Torbay (2025/26)

Inspection History(15)

Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement

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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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

11.53722%

Overall absence

33.90863%

Persistent absence

985

Enrolments

Authorised7.37225%
Unauthorised4.16498%
Persistent (10%+)33.90863%
Severe (50%+)7.20812%

Absence trend

6.63422%
18/19
8.74526%
20/21
12.04894%
21/22
12.32362%
22/23
14.4751%
23/24
11.53722%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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