Best Secondary Schools in Devon 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 37 schools across Devon. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Devon has 37 open secondary schools. Of the 37 with a published Ofsted inspection, 3 (8%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 78% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Colyton Grammar School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Devon follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

37
Total schools
3
Outstanding (historic grade)
8%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
33.4
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Colyton Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 Ivybridge Community College
Secondary
 Good 71 View school
🥉 Chulmleigh Community College
Secondary
 Good 70 View school
4. Braunton Academy
Secondary
 Good 70 View school
5. Kingsbridge Academy
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
6. West Exe School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
7. Coombeshead Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
8. St James School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
9. Isca Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
10. Pilton Community College
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
11. Queen Elizabeth's
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
12. Sidmouth College
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
13. Bideford College
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
14. St Luke's Church of England School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
15. Cullompton Community College
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
16. Teign School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
17. King Edward VI Community College
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
18. Clyst Vale Community College
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
19. Atlantic Academy
Secondary
 Good 55 View school
20. St Peter's Church of England Aided School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Devon

Best primary schools in DevonTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in DevonTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in DevonPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in DevonReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in TorbayCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in PlymouthCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SomersetCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Vale of GlamorganCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Devon

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Devon?
There are 37 open secondary schools in Devon (closed schools are excluded). 3 of the 37 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Devon?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Devon is Colyton Grammar School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Devon?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Devon?
Primary and secondary applications in Devon are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Devon council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.