South Devon College, Paignton
South Devon College is a post-16 school for pupils aged 14 to 99 in Paignton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2024. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 9th-highest of the 9 schools in Torbay with published results, and 3,265th of 3,298 across England.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
South Devon College in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at South Devon College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 28.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.6 in Torbay and 47 across England.
22% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Torbay and 47% in England.
That is down from 31 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.26: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 13 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.
Where pupils go next
Of the 107 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 77% to a further education college, 10% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.
Of the 1003 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 9% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Goodrington (Paignton and Dartmouth Railway), about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is South Devon College (stand 1), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 62 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Torbay (245).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Contribution to meeting skills needs: Strong
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
About
South Devon College is a further education college with 9 different campuses within Torbay and the surrounding area. The college is part of The University of Plymouth Colleges network.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
D+
Average grade
23.3
Points per entry
C-
Best 3 A-Levels
2%
Achieving AAB+
Below average
Value added
122
A-Level students
83%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 1,003 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
4%
Top-third university
25%
Degree course
36%
Any L4+ destination
2%
Apprenticeships
Based on 487 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Keep up with South Devon College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
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, 2 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 Torbay is 18 (the median across 47 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
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Paignton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Paignton
Across Torbay council
Places available
1,759
Applications
1,279
Got 1st preference
79.7%
Got preferred school
92.9%
All secondary applications across Torbay council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(13)
Questions parents ask about South Devon College
What are GCSE results like at South Devon College?
In the 2026 results, pupils at South Devon College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 28.9. 22% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is South Devon College's Ofsted rating?
South Devon College was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2024.
What is the catchment area for South Devon College?
No fixed boundary. When South Devon College is oversubscribed, Torbay allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to South Devon College?
Apply through Torbay's coordinated admissions process, naming South Devon College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near South Devon 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, 2 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 Torbay is 18 (the median across 47 schools, same distance and years).
Where is South Devon College?
South Devon College is at Vantage Point, Long Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 7EJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)