Orchard Vale Community School, Barnstaple
Orchard Vale Community School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Barnstaple, part of The Harbour Schools Partnership. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 20 schools in Barnstaple with published results, and 8,618th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Devon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Orchard Vale Community School in detail
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Orchard Vale Community School reached the expected standard in reading and 72% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (76% in reading, 78% in maths).
Getting a place at Orchard Vale Community School
For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Orchard Vale Community School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 31 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Orchard Vale Community School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Orchard Vale Community School are Eden Park Academy (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 79% reading, 75% maths); Newport Community School Primary Academy (0.9 miles, Outstanding, 69% reading, 63% maths); Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple (1.1 miles, Good, 69% reading, 59% maths); and Landkey Community Primary Academy (1.2 miles, Good, 75% reading, 68% maths).
Orchard Vale Community School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Eden Park AcademyNewport Community School Primary AcademyOur Lady's Catholic Primary School, BarnstapleLandkey Community Primary Academy
The trust
Orchard Vale Community School is one of 36 schools run by The Harbour Schools Partnership, an academy trust.
Who goes there
2.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Barnstaple Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Orchard Vale Community School (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 56 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Orchard Vale Community School issued 5 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
25.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 78% to 72% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 67% to 62% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.9
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
9
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Orchard Vale Community School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Orchard Vale Community School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Orchard Vale Community School is in Devon; for families living there:
- Devon's school travel policy: Free school transport
- How to apply: Apply for free school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Orchard Vale Community School
Will you get a place at Orchard Vale Community School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Orchard Vale Community School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Orchard Vale Community School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Orchard Vale Community School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Orchard Vale Community School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Devon got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
299 pupils
315 places
16 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Barnstaple
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Barnstaple
Across Devon council
Places available
9,014
Applications
6,494
Got 1st preference
96.5%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
49
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
20.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
311
Total Pupils
159
Boys
152
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
19.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,121
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,188
Per pupil
£1715k
Total funding
£109k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
7.3%
Persistent absence
273
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Orchard Vale Community School
Questions parents ask about Orchard Vale Community School
What are SATs results like at Orchard Vale Community School?
Of the pupils at Orchard Vale Community School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 72% did so in maths.
What is Orchard Vale Community School's Ofsted rating?
Orchard Vale Community School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for Orchard Vale Community School?
No fixed boundary. When Orchard Vale Community School is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Orchard Vale Community School?
Orchard Vale Community School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Orchard Vale Community School?
Classes at Orchard Vale Community School average 27.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Orchard Vale Community School?
Orchard Vale Community School has around 311 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Orchard Vale Community School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Orchard Vale Community School in 2024/25. 7.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Orchard Vale Community School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Orchard Vale Community School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Orchard Vale Community School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Orchard Vale Community School?
Orchard Vale Community School is at Westacott Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8QY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)