Holsworthy Community College
Holsworthy, EX22 6JD · Devon · secondary school
Check the area around this school
33rd of 40 secondary schools in Devon we can score, 41 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.9/10 against 686 of them, against 1.8/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.83 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 27.8 · 12 | 30% | 0.35 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.32 · 26 | 25% | 0.65 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.8 · 19 | 10% | 0.19 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Holsworthy Community College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.9, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.32 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join a Homework Club. Sports options include Dance, Gymnastics, Cycling, Yoga, Zumba, Boogie Bounce, Trampolining, and Badminton.
Getting in
The published school roll is 551 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students starting from similar backgrounds? How does the Homework Club integrate with the wider curriculum to support academic progress?
What Ofsted said about Holsworthy Community College
Overview
Holsworthy Community College continues to be a good school, characterised by "cooperative values" that permeate the curriculum and daily life. Pupils benefit from a "broad curriculum" and an environment where behaviour is "calm and orderly," with leaders maintaining high expectations for conduct and achievement.
Strengths
- Leaders have created an "ambitious curriculum" with clear intent, ensuring pupils can "recall what they have learned and apply that to new learning."
- Teachers possess "good subject knowledge" and conduct accurate checks on pupil understanding, helping students know "what they need to do to get better."
- Staff are "well informed about the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)," using resources creatively and applying regular training effectively.
- Reading is prioritised through a "wide reading programme," resulting in pupils "increasing their fluency and getting better at reading."
- The personal, social and health education (PSHE) programme is taught by a specialist team, ensuring content "identifies closely with the needs of the pupils."
Areas to improve
- The curriculum in a few subject areas is "not developed fully," meaning essential knowledge is not well defined; leaders must ensure all subjects are "carefully thought through."
- Leaders do not analyse participation rates in extra-curricular activities, preventing them from tailoring offerings to "encourage all pupils to take part, including disadvantaged pupils."
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong culture of safeguarding" where staff are knowledgeable and act promptly, though the school is introducing more structures for reporting to make it simpler for pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.4 |
| 2024/25 | 39.9 |
| 2025/26 | 39.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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