Best secondary schools in Devon

Although none of Devon’s seven grammar schools are in Exeter, families in in the city are free to apply to the grammars across the county despite them not being local. The jewel in the Devon grammar crown is co-ed Colyton Grammar, ‘Very much the go-to school in this area, ahead of some excellent competitors’, according to our review. It has very impressive results with 80+ per cent of pupils getting grades 9-7 at GCSE and 60+ per cent achieving grades A*/A at A level in recent years.

There are five non-selective middle schools in Exeter, none of which have sixth forms. Three of these, St Luke's, St Peter's Church of England Aided School and West Exe have achieved the highest scores in Devon in the ranking of pupil progress (Progress 8) and shine out as being equally oversubscribed and extremely popular. St Peter’s Church of England Aided School gets very slightly better scores for attainment and progression. St James School also achieves good reviews. All have good cultures for learning and are highly recommended academically and pastorally by parents.

Close to Exeter is Clyst Vale Community College in Broad Clyst, again offering academic progression and results way above the national average through to 18 years of age.

Post 16, outstanding Exeter College is the default choice for the majority of sixth form students across the whole of Devon, with its strong reputation, broad academic options and impressive city-wide spread of facilities and sense of freedom which student enjoy. Our review refers to it as, ' dynamic, future facing, well-resourced and run by a first-class leadership team.'

For the seriously bright A level mathematician, there is the extraordinarily impressive option of the Exeter Mathematics School. Parents here told our reviewer that the teaching is 'truly inspirational' with a strong Oxbridge success rate and grade A as an average for A level.

East Devon is chock-full of fantastic state secondary options. First and foremost it is home to the exceptional The King’s School in Ottery St Mary, ‘Does exactly what all parents wish their local school would do: provides a first class education for everybody,’ according to our reviewer. Top 17 per cent nationally for those achieving grade 4+ in English and mathematics and nearly 60 per cent of pupils achieving A*-B at A level.

Axe Valley Academy in Axminster is the catchment school for many in this area of Devon and also runs through to 18. It is a comparatively small secondary with increasingly rave reviews particularly for its pastoral care. Progress and attainment figures only slightly lower than King’s but with a similarly applauded ethos and approach.

In Plymouth, the city council runs a ‘one exam for either school’ on behalf of the two single sex grammar options for girls. Devonport High School for Girls is the current favourite among parents, according to our reviewer it ‘attracts girls from some 50 feeder schools…students seem well prepared not just for academic success but also for life after school.’ Plymouth High School for Girls is the alternative single sex option with results not far below those of Devonport. For boys there is one option, Devonport High School for Boys, which our reviewer felt has ‘a great reputation for science and engineering’ but also offers ‘so many more opportunities for the boys; by the time they leave they are not just academically wise but worldly wise too.’

There are 13 non-selective secondaries in Plymouth. Plymstock School is academically the highest achiever of these, our review describes it as, ‘A popular community comprehensive... the facilities are superb.’

UTC Plymouth is a recent addition to the city’s secondary offerings, a rare STEAM specialist school with strong local industry links and a competitive edge, it is already oversubscribed. Hele’s School and Notre Dame RC School two other popular and academically strong options in the city, the former with particularly good GCSE and A level results with the latter offering sturdy oversubscription priority for baptised Catholics.

There are no grammar schools within easy reach of north Devon but this does not stop some families committing to long journeys so that their children can attend them. See the rest of this section for more details.

The area is home to the impressive Braunton Academy and, further south, Okehampton College – of relevance to families in north Devon thanks to a huge rural catchment area of over 300 square miles. Academic performance at both schools has been above local and national averages in recent years.

For post-16 education most pupils head either to the much applauded Exeter College (see full details in the Exeter section of this guide) or to Petroc College in Barnstaple, which has arguably even stronger A level results.

Mid Devon is extremely lucky to have the fantastic Uffculme School near Cullompton, set in a glorious green campus, our reviewer found this to be, ‘A truly outstanding state comprehensive,’ praising everything from behaviour to teaching, sports to music, drama to everything extracurricular. See our section on Mid Devon primary schools – families commonly move into the Uffculme catchment area, such is the success of the school.

Torbay Council manages the 11-plus exam and admissions for all the selective options in Torquay; children can sit one exam and apply for all four schools. For many the choice comes down to whether they want single sex or coeducational. The bilateral Spires College is coed but the only pure grammar option for both boys and girls is Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy, which is based in Brixham. According to our review, it differs from its competitors because ‘it’s more relaxed than your average grammar school, maybe because it’s co-ed or maybe because it’s less traditional.’ Relaxed for a grammar it may be, but its attainment and progress results for pupils remain almost double those of neighbouring non-selective schools.

Opt for single sex and you have a choice of two. Either Torquay Boys’ Grammar School which our reviewer described as, ‘One of the top 20 boys’ schools in the country. Fantastic facilities and teaching that produces top results and very successful young men’. Or Torquay Girls’ Grammar, which our reviewer says is, ‘A haven of inspired, structured academic provision…supported by a nurturing and enlightened pastoral approach and a wealth of opportunities. Girls leave with the belief that everything is attainable.’

The wonderful Kingsbridge Academy is the highlight of state secondary education in south Devon with our reviewer declaring, ‘A wonderful example of how truly excellent a good community state school can be’. Attainment and progress scores well above national average and the average A level result an impressive B grade.

The other shining star in this region is King Edward VI Community College (known locally as KEVICCS), it is only marginally behind Kingsbridge Academy in terms of results but is also known for its impressive emphasis on performing arts.

Chulmleigh Community College takes pupils from 11 to 16, posts impressive results and is regularly oversubscribed. Its catchment area encroaches on parts of west Devon but double check your location against the school’s priority area. Okehampton College and Tavistock College, with their large rural catchment areas, educate a large proportion of secondary school children from west Devon and Dartmoor.

Independent secondary schools which are known for sympathetic nurturing of children with SEND include Sands School in Ashburton, where small class sizes and some extra 1:1 teaching provides for children aged 11-17 with specific learning difficulties, moderate learning needs and some social and emotional issues. Our reviewer commented, ‘The pastoral care here is second to none and on a level that is incredibly hard to match in a large mainstream setting – which is probably why they have more than their fair share of refugees turned phenomenal success stories from other schools.’ Structured support in an on-site base for students with autism can be found at Kingsley near Bideford, in its Greville Centre for autism. CReSTeD status and specialist dyslexia classes makes the school attractive to a lot of families who have one child with a specific learning difficulty and siblings without, but who want their children to be educated together.

Ellen Tinkham School is a state special school in Pinhoe offering fabulous provision for boys and girls aged 3-19 with severe or profound learning difficulties. Our reviewer described it as ‘a school that understands that special needs are a family affair’. Tiverton High School is a large mainstream secondary school with a resource base for eight students with communication and interaction needs, as well as providing a sanctuary club at break times for vulnerable students. Kingsbridge Academy has an impressive, newly repurposed, secure unit for high-need provision. Queen Elizabeth’s in Crediton has its MyPlace learning base for additional support for autism and The Spires College in Plymouth has two additional resource bases, for hearing impairment and for autism.

Additionally, The Outdoors School supports small classes of children with autism and social emotional and mental health needs in four forest sites across Devon whilst Vranch House School, is an outstanding day school for children with complex needs, including physical difficulties, in Exeter.