Tavistock College
Tavistock, PL19 8DD · Devon · secondary school
Check the area around this school
37th 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.
Narrow the comparison to the 880 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.3/10 among them, against 2.9/10 nationally. 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 | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.3 · 21 | 30% | 0.63 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.2 · 35 | 25% | 0.87 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.4 · 36 | 10% | 0.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Tavistock College overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Requires improvement in a June 2024 inspection. In 2024/25, 32.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.2 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.1 out of 10 among them, against 2.8 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Art, Dance, Film, Jazz, and Chess clubs, or participate in Rugby, Basketball, and Football. The school offers Drama productions, LAMDA Speech & Drama lessons, Peripatetic Music Lessons, Duke of Edinburgh, and Ten Tors. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,200 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,982. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific actions are being taken to address the Requires improvement rating? How does the school structure its after-school club to support homework and study?
What Ofsted said about Tavistock College
Overview
Tavistock College is judged as ‘Requires improvement’ for overall effectiveness and the quality of education, following a previous ‘Inadequate’ rating. However, the report confirms that the school ‘no longer requires significant improvement’, with strong performance in behaviour, personal development, leadership, and sixth-form provision.
Strengths
- Pupils’ behaviour is ‘orderly and calm’, with a ‘significant reduction in poor behaviour’ and improved attendance due to tenacious leadership.
- Personal development is ‘Good’, with pupils learning about ‘mutual respect, kindness and empathy’ and being ‘well prepared to be upstanding citizens’.
- Sixth-form provision is ‘Good’, featuring a ‘well-structured curriculum’ and ‘bespoke guidance’ that students value.
- Governance is ‘strong’, with trust directors and the local stakeholder board providing effective challenge and support.
- Staff support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is ‘effective in some areas’, particularly regarding reading support.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must use assessment effectively to check what pupils know, as they currently do not consistently adapt teaching to meet learning needs.
- The school must ensure its plan to promote reading for enjoyment is ‘implemented consistently in all year groups’, as it is currently not put in place as intended.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.8 |
| 2024/25 | 41.6 |
| 2025/26 | 43.4 |
| 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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