Atlantic Academy
Free schools · 242 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.1
Academy sponsor led
Bideford College
- Pupils on roll
- 1,455of 2,232 places
- Free school meals
- 27.8%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 228
- Ofsted
- Report card, 19 May 2026Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Expected standardAchievement Expected standardAttendance and behaviour Needs attentionPersonal development and wellbeing Expected standardInclusion Needs attentionLeadership and governance Needs attentionPost-16 provision Expected standardSafeguarding Met
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Bideford College (URN 113516, until 4 December 2015).
What the data says
Of the 214 pupils who finished Year 11 at Bideford College in 2023, 24% stayed on in Bideford College’s own sixth form (Devon average 23%), 45% went to a further education college and 8% started an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships are a real route from here: 8% of leavers started one, roughly twice the England figure of 3%.
Among the 65 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 38% went to university (Devon 25%, England 37%), and 25% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally; 15% started an apprenticeship, well above the 7% England average.
10% of leavers were not in sustained education, employment or training six months on, compared with 6% nationally.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Devon and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Bideford College | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 214 | 7,192 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 86% | 92% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 71% | 82% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 24% | 23% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | — | 2% | 13% |
| — further education college | 45% | 56% | 37% |
| — other education | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 6% | 3% |
| Employment | 7% | 4% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 10% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Bideford College | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 65 | 5,824 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 95% | 80% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 38% | 25% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 25% | 19% | 19% |
| Further education | 0% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 15% | 10% | 7% |
| Employment | 38% | 41% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 5% | 15% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Bideford College | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 45.7 | 45.4 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 50% | 46% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 69% | 66% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 50% | 37% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.27 | 4.02 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 31% | 22% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 34.7 | 32.3 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 50.6 | 49.0 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 1% | 6% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 228 | 100% | 89% | 20% | 20% | 71% |
| Mathematics | 226 | 99% | 88% | 20% | 22% | 77% |
| English Literature | 225 | 99% | 86% | 16% | 21% | 72% |
| Combined Science | 178 | 78% | 65% | 8% | 9% | 65% |
| History | 117 | 51% | 41% | 12% | 26% | 50% |
| Geography | 105 | 46% | 41% | 15% | 25% | 71% |
| French | 64 | 28% | 18% | 28% | 29% | 78% |
| Spanish | 55 | 24% | 19% | 20% | 27% | 82% |
| Biology | 46 | 20% | 23% | 43% | 45% | 91% |
| Chemistry | 44 | 19% | 23% | 32% | 47% | 95% |
| Physics | 44 | 19% | 23% | 41% | 46% | 95% |
| Art and Design | 27 | 12% | 7% | 15% | 24% | 59% |
| Photography | 18 | 8% | 6% | 6% | 19% | 72% |
| Music | 17 | 7% | 5% | 18% | 33% | 41% |
| Drama | 15 | 7% | 7% | 27% | 27% | 73% |
| Religious Studies | 15 | 7% | 31% | 40% | 32% | 73% |
| Design and Technology | 12 | 5% | 11% | 8% | 23% | 58% |
| Statistics | 5 | 2% | 5% | — | 20% | — |
| Computer Science | 4 | 2% | 13% | — | 30% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Studies | 44 | 70% | — |
| Health Studies | 40 | 63% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 35 | 56% | — |
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | 26 | 41% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 20 | 32% | — |
| Beauty Care / Services | 13 | 21% | — |
| Additional Mathematics FSMQ | 1 | 2% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Bideford College | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 138 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 63 | 3,028 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 32.40 | 34.55 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B- | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 24% | 15% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 21 | 33% | 31% |
| Psychology | 19 | 30% | 23% |
| Physics | 14 | 22% | 12% |
| Biology | 13 | 21% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 11 | 17% | 17% |
| English Literature | 7 | 11% | 11% |
| Art and Design | 6 | 10% | 1% |
| History | 6 | 10% | 13% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Religious Studies | — | — | 4% |
| Economics | — | — | 13% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| English Language | — | — | 4% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Sociology | — | — | 13% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 30 | 48% | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | 28 | 44% | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | 20 | 32% | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | 17 | 27% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 14 | 22% | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | 14 | 22% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 11 | 17% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 11 | 17% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 11 | 17% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 10 | 16% | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 10 | 16% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 9 | 14% | — |
| English Literature | GCE AS level (All) | 8 | 13% | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 7 | 11% | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 6 | 10% | — |
| French | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Geography | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Economics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Art and Design | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Economics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| English Language | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| English Literature | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Art and Design | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Photography | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| French | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Photography | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Devon
Axe Valley Academy
Academy sponsor led · 741 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 39.2
Braunton Academy
Academy converter · 828 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 53.7
Chulmleigh Community College
Academy converter · 735 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 54.1
Clyst Vale Community College
Academy converter · sixth form · 944 pupils
78% stayed in education · Attainment 8 44.5
Colyton Grammar School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,083 pupils
98% stayed in education · Attainment 8 78.8
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.