The King's School
Ottery St Mary, EX11 1RA · Devon · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th 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 796 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.6/10 among them, against 7.0/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 51.1 · 65 | 46% | 3.00 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.34 · 75 | 38% | 2.89 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.6 · 72 | 15% | 1.11 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The King's School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 55.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 51.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.34 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better 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 6.6 out of 10 among them, against 7.6 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join clubs such as Musical Theatre, Computer Science, and Radio, alongside sports like Ten Tors and Horse Riding. Arts provision includes the Orchestra and Arvon Writing Retreat. Trips go to Paris, Barcelona, and London. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,097 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,150. 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 maintain progress given the gap between its similar-intake score and the national figure? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about The King's School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils "enjoy learning" and benefit from a "very well-designed curriculum" that enables most to excel. Leadership is characterised by strong governance and staff who go "above and beyond" to support pupils, resulting in "exemplary" behaviour and outstanding personal development.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate "exemplary" behaviour and are "very well motivated to learn and achieve."
- The curriculum is "well sequenced," allowing pupils to build on prior knowledge with "very strong" teacher subject expertise.
- Sixth-form provision is "exceptionally well-structured," offering rich opportunities for personal development and informed career decisions.
- Personal development is outstanding, with pupils gaining deep knowledge of citizenship, liberty, and democracy through activities like the school parliament.
- Pastoral support is "very strong," fostering strong relationships that ensure consistently high attendance.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure assessment information is used with precision to address literacy gaps, as pupils struggling with literacy "do not achieve well" across the curriculum.
- The plan to promote reading for enjoyment is not consistently implemented in all year groups, particularly at key stage 4.
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 | 53.1 |
| 2024/25 | 51.9 |
| 2025/26 | 50.6 |
| 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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