Academy converter · Devon

The Park Community School

11–16Ages
1,408Pupils
SecondaryPhase
146094URN

Park Lane, Barnstaple, EX32 9AX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

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 (1.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in DevonSelective

315 applications for 252 places · 25th of 36 in Devon

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

47.5of 90

Devon 45.9 England 46.0

16th of 40 in Devon

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 3 June 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		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, Year 7

close to Devon median (1.4) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

315 applications · 252 places offered · 252 named it first

2026 1.3; Devon median median 1.4
2025 1.3; Devon median median 1.4
2024 1.3; Devon median median 1.4
2023 1.3; Devon median median 1.4
2022 1.4; Devon median median 1.3
2021 1.4; Devon median median 1.4
2020 1.3; Devon median median 1.3
2019 1.3; Devon median median 1.4; as the previous school
2018 1.3; Devon median median 1.3; as the previous school
2017 1.3; Devon median median 1.4; as the previous school
2016 1.5; Devon median median 1.5; as the previous school
2015 1.5; Devon median median 1.5; as the previous school
2014 1.5; Devon median median 1.5; as the previous school

This school
Devon median

Dashed bars: as The Park Community School (URN 113514), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, 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	252	315	1.3	252	1.00
Sep 2025	267	338	1.3	265	0.99
Sep 2024	277	350	1.3	268	0.97
Sep 2023	294	370	1.3	294	1.00
Sep 2022	290	402	1.4	324	1.12
Sep 2021	294	410	1.4	326	1.11
Sep 2020	296	396	1.3	324	1.09
Sep 2019 *	278	354	1.3	280	1.01
Sep 2018 *	310	390	1.3	316	1.02
Sep 2017 *	276	358	1.3	268	0.97
Sep 2016 *	281	407	1.5	276	0.98
Sep 2015 *	281	419	1.5	272	0.97
Sep 2014 *	233	347	1.5	221	0.95

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

280 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)47.516th of 40 in Devon

Devon 45.9 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths53%9th of 40 in Devon

Devon 45% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths74%

Devon 65% England 66%

This school
Devon median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.13

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	280	47.5	53%	74%	–
2024/25	278	46.6	48%	66%	–
2023/24	254	48.0	48%	69%	−0.13
2022/23	301	45.4	45%	63%	−0.25

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

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

The Park Community SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 47.5Attainment 8
Pilton Community College
2.5 km · Devon

Good2023

1.3applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
Braunton Academy
8.3 km · Devon

Standards maintained2025

1.2applications per place 48.1Attainment 8
Bideford College
13.3 km · Devon

2026

1.1applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
Great Torrington School
14.0 km · Devon

Remains Good2022

1.3applications per place 42.1Attainment 8
The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy
15.7 km · Devon

2026

1.1applications per place 50.7Attainment 8
South Molton Community College
16.4 km · Devon

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.2applications per place 48.4Attainment 8
Chulmleigh Community College
21.2 km · Devon

Remains Good · improving2023

1.5applications per place 53.2Attainment 8
Atlantic Academy
22.7 km · Devon

Good2023

2.3applications per place 47.8Attainment 8

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: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 146094 · 878/4059
Trust: The Harbour Schools Partnership
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,500 pupils · 1,408 on roll
Free school meals: 26.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 February 2019
Replaced: The Park Community School (URN 113514)
Address: Park Lane, Barnstaple, EX32 9AX
Local authority: Devon · North Devon

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources