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The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy

Worth Road, Ilfracombe EX34 9JB · ilfracombeacademy.uk · 01271 863427

On the mapSearch near EX34 9JB

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
47.9
average Attainment 8 score. Devon 45.4, England 46
Last distance offered
No limit
Year 7, September 2026 entry · Devon Council
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,016
85% of 1,200 places
Local authority
Devon
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
27.4%
First language not English
3.1%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Athena Learning Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Devon Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 131 families put the school first and 131 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 173 (Places 172)173September 2023: 175 (Places 176)175September 2024: 123 (Places 136)123September 2025: 156 (Places 156)156September 2026: 131 (Places 131)131Places 131
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261311311100%
September 2025Sept 20251561561100%
September 2024Sept 20241361230.9100%
September 2023Sept 20231761751100%
September 2022Sept 20221721731▲99%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.9, and 50.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Devon it was 45.4, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (36.8 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 43.0 (England 46.3)43.02017/18: 40.3 (England 46.5)40.32018/19: 42.1 (England 46.7)42.12021/22: 44.1 (England 48.8)44.12022/23: 42.8 (England 46.3)42.82023/24: 50.8 (England 45.9)50.82024/25: 47.9 (England 46.0)47.9England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●47.946.0
▲50.6%45.4%
▲74.2%64.8%
▼9.6%40.5%
●4.064.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form37.9+3.2
Further education40.2−2.6
Other education2.3+1.7
Apprenticeship4.6−1.8
Employment4.6−2.9
Not in a lasting destination5.7−0.7
Activity not captured4.6+2.9

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 25.6 (England 30.5)C-2016/17: 24.1 (England 31.1)D+2017/18: 23.2 (England 32.1)D+2018/19: 27.8 (England 32.9)C-2021/22: 35.6 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 34.4 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 30.2 (England 34.4)C2024/25: 36.8 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
46 studentsB- (36.8)Above average +0.23
46 studentsB- (36.8)Above average +0.23
21 studentsDist- (31.6)Average +0.09
28%AAB or better
77.4%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2456C (30.2)+0.03
2022/2353C+ (34.4)—
2021/2275B- (35.6)—
2018/1976C- (27.8)-0.18
2017/1886D+ (23.2)-0.44
2016/1784D+ (24.1)-0.27
2015/1681C- (25.6)+0.01

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University27.3−19.4
Further education1.5−1.8
Apprenticeship6.1+2.8
Employment31.8−0.8
Not in a lasting destination25.8+18.2
Activity not captured7.6+1.1

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy on 13 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
13 Jan 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and well-beingExpected standard
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, May 2023

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • May 2023Requires improvement
    Quality of educationRequires improvement
    Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Apr 2017Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Feb 2015Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

74% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (135 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
74%
Positive
67%
Replies
135
13% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▼73% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe▼77% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▲84% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▼71% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well●77% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▼64% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼65% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 89% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly●44% agreeEngland 43%

based on 36 parents (27%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼43% agreeEngland 63%

based on 47 parents (35%) with SEND

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