School profile

Atlantic Academy

Secondary · Free schools · Bideford, EX39 5DW

Good

Map showing Atlantic Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,332 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

Atlantic Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 7 Feb 2023

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeFree schools
Ages11 to 16
Pupils242
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherDr Claire Ankers
TrustATHENA LEARNING TRUST
Local authorityDevon
Opened01 Oct 2018
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 146567.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.47.8, similar to England, better than Devon45.646.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.68.9%, better than England, better than Devon65.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.57.8%, better than England, better than Devon45.3%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.22.2%, better than England, better than Devon12.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths62.2%, similar to England, similar to Devon60%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 445--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils242
Girls111
Boys131
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.37.6%
First language not English1.2%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.500
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.51.6%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.79
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.20
Average class size22

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
89.7%
Other White
3.7%
Other mixed
0.4%
Indian
0.4%
Irish
0%
Traveller of Irish heritage
0%
Gypsy/Roma
0%
White and Black Caribbean
0%
White and Black African
0%
White and Asian
0%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.3
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.9.6
Teachers (FTE)15.8
Teaching assistants (FTE)6.71
Support staff (FTE)14.5
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2514.8
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2514
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/250.2
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/250.6

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.24
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.55
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.22
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.22
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)8

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Overall absence14.3%, worse than England, worse than Devon9.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.38.3%, worse than England, worse than Devon24.9%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.10.7%, worse than England, worse than Devon5.1%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate92.5%
Pupils with one or more suspensions22.5%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.85.5%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.70.9%
Further education61.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.12.7%
Apprenticeship7.3%
Employment7.3%
Sixth form college5.5%
School sixth form0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Frequently asked questions about Atlantic Academy

What is Atlantic Academy's Ofsted rating?

Atlantic Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 7 Feb 2023.

How does Atlantic Academy rank in England?

Atlantic Academy ranks 1,332 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools).

What are Atlantic Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 57.8% of pupils at Atlantic Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 47.8 (England 46.2).

How hard is it to get into Atlantic Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Atlantic Academy made 24 offers from 55 applications (2.3 per offer), and 22 of 22 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Atlantic Academy?

Atlantic Academy has 242 pupils aged 11 to 16.

What is the capacity of Atlantic Academy?

Atlantic Academy had 500 school places in 2024/25.

Does Atlantic Academy have a sixth form?

No, Atlantic Academy teaches pupils up to age 16.

How big are classes at Atlantic Academy?

At Atlantic Academy, the average class had 22 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.3 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Atlantic Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Atlantic Academy missed 14.3% of sessions (England 8%), and 38.3% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.