Schools by area › Devon › Orchard Vale Community School
Orchard Vale Community School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Westacott Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple EX32 8QY · ovschool.co.uk · 01271 375074
On the mapSearch near EX32 8QY
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 51%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Devon 59%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Reception, September 2026 entry · Devon Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 311
- 85% of 368 places
- Local authority
- Devon
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 26.4%
- First language not English
- 2.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Devon Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 31 families put the school first and 31 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 31 | 31 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 35 | 34 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 33 | 33 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 41 | 41 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 47 | 45 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 2% the higher standard. Across Devon it was 59%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼51% | 62% | ||
| ▼2% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
| ▼102 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Orchard Vale Community School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 10 May 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 10 May 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2011
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Nov 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Requires improvement Mar 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
81% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (43 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 81%
- Replies
- 43
- 12% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 72% who raised concerns
based on the 35% who had a child bullied