Academy converter · Devon

Orchard Vale Community School

3–11Ages
311Pupils
PrimaryPhase
137644URN

Westacott Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, EX32 8QY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

close to Devon median (1.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Devon

41 applications for 31 places · 117th of 163 in Devon

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

51%met the expected standard

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 10 May 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.3applications per place, Reception

close to Devon median (1.5) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

41 applications · 31 places offered · 31 named it first

2026 1.3; Devon median median 1.5
2025 1.3; Devon median median 1.5
2024 1.2; Devon median median 1.6
2023 1.4; Devon median median 1.6
2022 1.4; Devon median median 1.6
2021 1.5; Devon median median 1.6
2020 1.6; Devon median median 1.6
2019 1.5; Devon median median 1.6
2018 1.6; Devon median median 1.6
2017 1.3; Devon median median 1.6
2016 1.5; Devon median median 1.6
2015 1.3; Devon median median 1.7
2014 1.4; Devon median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Devon median in 1 of 13 years.

This school
Devon median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	31	41	1.3	31	1.00
Sep 2025	35	47	1.3	34	0.97
Sep 2024	33	39	1.2	33	1.00
Sep 2023	41	59	1.4	41	1.00
Sep 2022	47	66	1.4	45	0.96
Sep 2021	35	54	1.5	34	0.97
Sep 2020	45	70	1.6	47	1.04
Sep 2019	43	63	1.5	42	0.98
Sep 2018	45	73	1.6	41	0.91
Sep 2017	50	66	1.3	45	0.90
Sep 2016	45	69	1.5	42	0.93
Sep 2015	56	74	1.3	50	0.89
Sep 2014	40	57	1.4	38	0.95

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 77% · Writing 62% · Maths 72% → all three 51% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard51%195th of 266 in Devon

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard77%

Devon 79% England 78%

Higher standard28%

Devon 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard62%

Devon 74% England 75%

Greater depth2%

Devon 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard72%

Devon 75% England 77%

Higher standard17%

Devon 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Devon median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	51%	2%	104	103
2023/24	63%	4%	104	104
2022/23	58%	3%	104	102

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Orchard Vale Community SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.3applications per place 51%met the SATs standard
Eden Park Academy
1.1 km · Devon

2026

1.1applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Newport Community School Primary Academy
1.5 km · Devon

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple
1.8 km · Devon

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Landkey Community Primary Academy
2.0 km · Devon

Remains Good2022

1.5applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Goodleigh Church of England Primary School
2.0 km · Devon

Remains Good2022

2.6applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Ashleigh CofE Primary School
2.0 km · Devon

Good2022

1.6applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
Yeo Valley Primary School
2.2 km · Devon

Good2023

1.6applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
Pilton Infants' Academy
3.0 km · Devon

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 137644 · 878/2727
Trust: The Harbour Schools Partnership
Capacity: 368 pupils · 311 on roll
Free school meals: 26.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 November 2011
Replaced: Orchard Vale Community School (URN 131273)
Address: Westacott Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, EX32 8QY
Local authority: Devon · North Devon

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources