The Shoreline Academy, Barnstaple
The Shoreline Academy is an all-through school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Barnstaple, part of Wave Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Shoreline Academy in detail
Getting a place at The Shoreline Academy
Across Devon, 93% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Devon lodged 66 appeals against secondary school offers; 48 reached a hearing and 10 succeeded (20.8% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to The Shoreline Academy are The Park Community School (1.9 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 47.5); Pilton Community College (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.8); and Braunton Academy (3.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.1).
The Park Community SchoolPilton Community CollegeBraunton Academy
The trust
The Shoreline Academy is one of 11 schools run by Wave Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 15 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 27% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 20% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 13% into work.
Who goes there
64.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (10%).
In 2026, 37 pupils (88.1%) received SEN support and 5 (11.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Barnstaple Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodside Court (opposite), 150 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to The Shoreline Academy are Roundswell Community Primary Academy (0.3 miles), Sticklepath Community Primary Academy (0.8 miles), Holywell Church of England School (1.5 miles) and Fremington Primary School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Roundswell Community Primary AcademySticklepath Community Primary AcademyHolywell Church of England SchoolFremington Primary School
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school specialises in helping young people who have been excluded from mainstream schools get back on track. Through caring relationships with staff, pupils quickly re-engage with learning and develop impressive life skills. The outdoor education programme and emphasis on social skills prepare them exceptionally well for their future, while strong careers guidance ensures they leave ready for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding personal development programme with transformative outdoor education curriculum including kayaking and sports
- High-priority reading support with early reading programme that has been transformational for struggling readers
- Excellent management of pupils' social, emotional and mental health needs, helping them manage emotional responses
- Individualised curriculum that responds to pupils' learning needs, interests and future aspirations
- Strong focus on careers guidance with work experience opportunities preparing pupils exceptionally well for next steps
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, staff do not consistently adapt teaching to help pupils write about their learning with sufficient depth and accuracy
- Need to ensure all staff plan specific adaptations so pupils write more extensively and accurately about what they have learned
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Kayaking, swimming, outdoor education, work experience, sports, cooking classes
The Shoreline Academy is an alternative provision school for pupils permanently excluded from mainstream education. In a short time, pupils re-engage with learning and flourish in this calm, nurturing environment with strong staff relationships.
At a Glance
64.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with The Shoreline Academy
Before and after school care
The Shoreline Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Devon
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Shoreline Academy.
- Little Butterflies Roundswell ASC600m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Shoreline Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Shoreline Academy 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
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
84%
Available places
42 pupils
50 places
8 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Barnstaple
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Barnstaple
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.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
37
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
42
Total Pupils
24
Boys
18
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
3.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,806
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about The Shoreline Academy
What is The Shoreline Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Shoreline Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for The Shoreline Academy?
No fixed boundary. When The Shoreline Academy is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Shoreline Academy?
The Shoreline Academy has around 42 pupils on roll. 64% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to The Shoreline Academy?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming The Shoreline Academy 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.
Does The Shoreline Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
The Shoreline Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of The Shoreline Academy: Little Butterflies Roundswell ASC (600m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near The Shoreline Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 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 The Shoreline Academy?
The Shoreline Academy is at Springfield Court, Fishleigh Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3UD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)