South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton
South Dartmoor Community College is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Ashburton, part of Westcountry Schools Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 12th-highest of the 40 schools in Devon with published results, and 1,247th of 3,298 across England. It was 47% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Below England average
- Progress (2024)
- Average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Devon (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
South Dartmoor Community College in detail
South Dartmoor Community College in its own words
In its own words: "Please see the links in this section for a range of information."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at South Dartmoor Community College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Devon and 47 across England.
50% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Devon and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 47.7.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.06: pupils made about 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 36.2, against 54.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.9 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.
Getting a place at South Dartmoor Community College
For September 2026 entry, 160 families put South Dartmoor Community College as their first choice and 252 named it as one of their preferences, for 182 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at South Dartmoor Community College
The trust
South Dartmoor Community College is one of 31 schools run by Westcountry Schools Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.4 in 2024/25.
What parents say
130 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about South Dartmoor Community College (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 76% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (76%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 115 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.
Of the 57 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 26% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 44% into work. 14% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 145 pupils (18.1%) received SEN support and 67 (8.4%) 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 autism.
South Dartmoor Community College has a SEN unit for autism: 20 places, 0 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Buckfastleigh (South Devon Railway), about 3 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is South Dartmoor Community College (ne-bound), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, South Dartmoor Community College issued 272 suspensions, 34.2 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 multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
South Dartmoor Community College is ambitious that all pupils are well prepared for their future studies. The school, with the support of the trust, has raised examination outcomes for pupils and sixth-form students. The school understands the importance of continuing to support disadvantaged pupils to achieve as well as their peers.
The school has high expectations for pupils' conduct. There are clear consequences and support if a pupil's behaviour does not meet these. Pupils appreciate this clarity and fairness. Pupils and staff have positive and respectful relationships which mean that pupils feel safe. As a result, the school is calm and pupils can focus on learning.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
There has been an extensive review of the curriculum to ensure that it remains broad for all pupils. The school has worked with trust leaders to develop the Westcountry Schools Trust curriculum. All year groups are now following this curriculum, which is preparing them well for the next stage of their studies. The school provides opportunities for pupils to study the GCSE qualifications that form the English Baccalaureate. Currently, the number of pupils completing this is low, but leaders are considering how to raise this further.
In most subjects, leaders have set out the important knowledge that pupils will learn. Formal assessments check pupils' recall and provide the feedback they need to improve their work. However, between these formal assessments, there is sometimes insufficient checking of pupils' knowledge and understanding. Without this, teachers do not have the information they need to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of all pupils. For example, if a gap in a pupil's knowledge is not identified and resolved it can hinder their ability to learn future topics. Equally, pupils who have already grasped concepts may not move to more complex ideas swiftly enough.
From Ofsted's September 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its March 2022 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement).
About
South Dartmoor Community College (SDCC) is a co-educational academy school located in Ashburton, Devon, England. The number of students on roll is 1,650.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
22.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
130 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around 0.06 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 47.5 to 48.3 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 54% to 50% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 48.3 | 50.4% |
| Disadvantaged(41) | - | 36.2 | 26.8% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(86) | - | 54.1 | 61.6% |
| Boys(66) | - | 46.8 | 47% |
| Girls(61) | - | 50.0 | 54.1% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(7) | - | 32.8 | 14.3% |
| Non mobile(123) | - | 48.7 | 51.2% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 6 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 115 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
272
Suspensions
34.21%
Suspension rate
73 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 795 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby secondary schools
Latest from South Dartmoor Community College
Tesco Fruit and Veg Grants Programme Customer Vote!
18 Sep 2026
SDCC Celebrates Excellent GCSE Results
20 Aug 2026
Sixth Form Celebrates Outstanding Results
13 Aug 2026
Octopus Energy Tech Summit 2026
15 Jul 2026
Aspirations Week
15 Jul 2026
Summer Gala Concert
15 Jul 2026
From South Dartmoor Community College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with South Dartmoor Community College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to South Dartmoor Community College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. South Dartmoor Community College 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)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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 South Dartmoor Community College
Will you get a place at South Dartmoor Community College? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against South Dartmoor Community College's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for South Dartmoor Community College:
- The straight-line distance from your home to South Dartmoor Community College.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at South Dartmoor Community College 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
47%
Available places
796 pupils
1,708 places
912 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ashburton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ashburton
Across Devon council
Places available
7,788
Applications
7,251
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
145
SEN Support
67
EHC Plans
26.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
South Dartmoor Community College has a SEN unit for autism: 20 places, 0 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
801
Total Pupils
417
Boys
384
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
50
Teachers
16.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,116
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,994
Per pupil
£5094k
Total funding
£163k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.0%
Overall absence
26.2%
Persistent absence
730
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
South Dartmoor Community College
Questions parents ask about South Dartmoor Community College
What are GCSE results like at South Dartmoor Community College?
In the 2026 results, pupils at South Dartmoor Community College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.3. 50% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is South Dartmoor Community College's Ofsted rating?
South Dartmoor Community College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for South Dartmoor Community College?
No fixed boundary. When South Dartmoor Community College is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at South Dartmoor Community College?
South Dartmoor Community College was not full in 2025: it ran at 47% of its 1708 places.
How big are the classes at South Dartmoor Community College?
Classes at South Dartmoor Community College average 19.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to South Dartmoor Community College?
South Dartmoor Community College has around 801 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
Does South Dartmoor Community College have specialist SEN provision?
South Dartmoor Community College has a SEN unit for autism: 20 places, 0 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at South Dartmoor Community College?
10% of sessions were missed at South Dartmoor Community College in 2024/25. 26.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to South Dartmoor Community College?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming South Dartmoor Community College on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near South Dartmoor Community College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is South Dartmoor Community College?
South Dartmoor Community College is at Balland Lane, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7EW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)