The Park Community School
Barnstaple, EX32 9AX · Devon · secondary school
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9th 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.6/10 against 878 of them, against 5.6/10 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 | 52.9 · 69 | 46% | 3.18 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.13 · 40 | 38% | 1.54 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 47.5 · 58 | 15% | 0.89 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Park Community School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 47.5% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.13 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join Chess, Dungeons & Dragons, SParkS, Music clubs, Bands, and Choirs. They participate in Ten Tors and the Dance Show – Ignite. Trips include an annual ski trip, an Expressive Arts trip to London, expeditions to Uganda, Berlin, and Sicily, fieldwork to Croyde and Lynmouth, theatre visits, and Year 10 college taster days.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,408 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. 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 support is available for students aiming for higher attainment in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about The Park Community School
Overview
The Park Community School is described as “improving rapidly,” with pupils responding well to high expectations and demonstrating orderly, respectful behaviour. The report highlights a positive culture where pupils reflect the school’s values and engage well with their learning, noting that the school makes a “real difference” to attendance and achievement, particularly for those who have previously struggled.
Strengths
- Pupils follow a “broad and ambitious curriculum” and generally achieve well, with overall attainment above the national average.
- Staff morale is high, and leaders are united in an “ambitious vision,” having navigated recent trust changes skilfully to ensure effective governance.
- The school provides strong pastoral care, with dedicated staff available to support pupils and a “well-structured programme” for personal development.
- Extra-curricular activities, often linked to the Duke of Edinburgh’s award, help pupils develop resilience and volunteering experience.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the school takes a “strong stance on bullying and prejudice.”
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure teaching approaches are implemented “consistently well” across all subjects, as inconsistencies currently affect how securely pupils build knowledge.
- The school should ensure disadvantaged pupils attend regularly, as their persistent absence remains too high and reduces their achievement over time.
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 | 48.0 |
| 2024/25 | 46.6 |
| 2025/26 | 47.5 |
| 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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