Pilton Community College, Barnstaple

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a successful 11-16 mixed comprehensive school whose student-centred philosophy demonstrates our commitment to enabling every student to achieve their potential by fostering a culture where students believe that success is for all. Traditional valu es underpin everything that we do."

In 2026, pupils at Pilton Community College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Devon and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Devon and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.23: 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 31.6, against 47 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Engineering Studies and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 199 families put Pilton Community College as their first choice and 260 named it as one of their preferences, for 199 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Pilton Community College are The Park Community School (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 47.5); and Braunton Academy (3.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Pilton Community College.

Pilton Community College is one of 36 schools run by The Harbour Schools Partnership, an academy trust.

Of the 237 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 75% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 73% to a further education college, 10% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

5.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 166 pupils (14.2%) received SEN support and 94 (8.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Pilton Community College has a resourced provision for autism and physical disability: 9 places, 9 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Barnstaple Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

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

In August 2026, police recorded 203 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, Pilton Community College issued 653 suspensions, 56.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Pilton Community College are Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy (0.2 miles), Pilton Infants' Academy (0.3 miles), Yeo Valley Primary School (0.7 miles) and Ashleigh CofE Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.