Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #16 in Devon public Top 20% UK

The Park Community School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Vicky Owen

corporate_fareTARKA LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

location_onBarnstaple, EX32 9AX

language Visit Website phone 1271373131

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

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Students

1,448

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.6

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GCSE Rank

#14 in Devon

#1,437 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Park Community School is a Academy converter secondary school in Barnstaple, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

The Park Community School is an academy converter in Barnstaple, Devon, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of TARKA LEARNING PARTNERSHIP. The school has approximately 1,435 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.6, placing the school #14 in Devon and #1,437 of 3,216 nationally. 47.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 19.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 11.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

46.6

Grade 5+ E&M

47.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)19.2%

Entering EBacc50.40%

EBacc APS4.23

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc52.80%

EBacc APS4.4

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc50%

EBacc APS4.07

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc49%

EBacc APS4.47

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS-

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 June 2025

Inspection Report

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24 January 2023

Inspection Report

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08 February 2019

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-06-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2023-01-24

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-05-23

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-06-04

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

11.7%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.9%(71 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,435 pupils. During this period, there were 168 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 11.7%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,435	168	11.7%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,441	158	11.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,410	148	10.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,416	158	11.2%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,426	151	10.6%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,439	163	11.3%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,448	340	23.5%	6.4%	7
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,453	257	17.7%	5.9%	3
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,441	153	10.6%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,454	190	13.1%	4.9%	2
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,457	172	11.8%	4.4%	3
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,406	84	6.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,415	20	1.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,422	102	7.2%	3.9%	3
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,404	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,404	39	2.8%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,411	28	2.0%	4.2%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 53 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 47 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 38 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 34 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 26 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

70.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

71.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree11%

agree41%

disagree27%

strongly disagree16%

don't know6%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree17%

agree40%

disagree29%

strongly disagree11%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree24%

agree28%

disagree17%

strongly disagree12%

don't know2%

not applicable17%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes18%

no82%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree8%

agree18%

disagree32%

strongly disagree42%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree33%

agree40%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree43%

disagree19%

strongly disagree8%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree30%

agree47%

disagree15%

strongly disagree7%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree34%

agree58%

disagree7%

strongly disagree1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree47%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree22%

agree37%

disagree24%

strongly disagree8%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes62%

no38%

Top Secondary Schools in Devon

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Colyton Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Colyton, EX24 6HN

emoji_events #1 in LA

Chulmleigh Community College

Good

location_on Chulmleigh, EX18 7AA

emoji_events #2 in LA

Ivybridge Community College

Good

location_on Ivybridge, PL21 0JA

emoji_events #3 in LA

Braunton Academy

Good

location_on Braunton, EX33 2BP

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Peter's Church of England Aided School

Good

location_on Exeter, EX2 5AP

emoji_events #5 in LA

Uffculme School

Outstanding

location_on Cullompton, EX15 3AG

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Devon arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Devon

Colyton Grammar School

Chulmleigh Community College

Ivybridge Community College

Braunton Academy

St Peter's Church of England Aided School

Uffculme School