West Buckland School, Barnstaple
West Buckland School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Barnstaple. It has a Christian religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a non-routine inspection in September 2026.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
West Buckland School in detail
West Buckland School in its own words
In its own words: "Our aim is to provide an outstanding education that nurtures the potential of every individual, promotes personal growth and prepares students for future success and global citizenship in a changing world."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include gymnastics, badminton, swimming, dance, drama, chess, art and book club.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for West Buckland School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Where pupils go next
Of the 76 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 53% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 16% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 93 pupils (18.6%) received SEN support and 2 (0.4%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of West Buckland School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (nw-bound), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Devon (16).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Non-Routine Inspection
10 September 2026
Routine Inspection
28 April 2026
Non-Routine Inspection
24 November 2023
Regulatory Compliance
17 May 2023
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
29 January 2019
Intermediate (Boarding)
26 January 2016
Integrated
22 January 2013
About
West Buckland School is a private co-educational day and boarding school in West Buckland, Devon in the English public school tradition. It comprises a senior school, preparatory school, and a nursery.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for West Buckland School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 2 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
Latest from West Buckland School
The Power of Performance: Creative Arts at WBS
14 Sep 2026
Champions on Court
8 Sep 2026
Tradition of Artistic Excellence Continues
24 Aug 2026
GCSE Results 2026: Our Strongest Results in Four Years
20 Aug 2026
Celebrating the Diverse Destinations of Our Year 13 Leavers
19 Aug 2026
Sixth Form Students Celebrate Outstanding Success
14 Aug 2026
From West Buckland School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with West Buckland School
Getting There
Bus Stops
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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
53%
Available places
499 pupils
933 places
434 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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
93
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
19.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
499
Total Pupils
270
Boys
229
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about West Buckland School
What are GCSE results like at West Buckland School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for West Buckland School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was West Buckland School last inspected?
West Buckland School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a non-routine inspection in September 2026.
How many pupils go to West Buckland School?
West Buckland School has around 499 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to West Buckland School?
West Buckland School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near West Buckland 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 West Buckland School?
West Buckland School is at West Buckland, Barnstaple, EX32 0SX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)