Question 1

Is Budehaven Community School a good school?

Accepted Answer

Budehaven is rated Good by Ofsted (April 2024) across all areas including Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth Form Provision. The sixth form is stronger than GCSE, with 40% of A-level grades at A*-B in the 2025 dataset. GCSE outcomes remain below the national midpoint. The school is most effective for students staying through to A-level.

Question 2

What are the GCSE results like?

Accepted Answer

GCSE results sit below the stronger national performers with an Attainment 8 score of 45.4 and Progress 8 score of -0.22, indicating students make slightly less progress than peers nationally. 10.2% achieved grades 5 and above across the English Baccalaureate. This is an area the school is working to improve.

Question 3

Is the sixth form strong?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but the current picture is middle-band rather than top-20% nationally. A-level results show 40% of grades at A*-B in the 2025 dataset, and the school ranks 1,483rd for A-level academic outcomes in England. The sixth form environment is notably stronger than GCSE outcomes.

Question 4

What sports and drama facilities does Budehaven have?

Accepted Answer

The adjacent Budehaven Leisure Centre provides a sports hall, squash court, badminton courts, fitness suite, climbing room, two indoor tennis courts, two indoor netball courts, outdoor tennis courts, multi-sport artificial pitch, and grass pitches. Drama facilities include performance spaces for the annual school production, Budehaven Lights theatre company, and regular musical concerts. The school competes at national and international level in various sports.

Question 5

What music and drama opportunities are available?

Accepted Answer

Music ensembles include the Rock Band and Samba Band. Drama clubs include Budehaven Lights (school theatre company), Acting Up, Centre Stage (gifted and talented), and Encore (GCSE revision). Recent productions include *The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time* and *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*. Music clubs include choral skills, rock schools, jazz band and keyboard clubs. Regular community concerts are held.

Question 6

Where do sixth form leavers progress to?

Accepted Answer

In the 2023/24 cohort, 35% of leavers progressed to university, 29% entered employment, 9% began apprenticeships, and 3% continued in further education. University destinations include Oxbridge (1 recent place), plus Russell Group universities such as Bristol, Exeter, Durham, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Students study diverse courses including neuroscience, engineering, law, teaching and nursing.

Question 7

What pastoral support and wellbeing services does the school offer?

Accepted Answer

The Haven is an on-site integrated health centre providing health, emotional wellbeing and academic support. A trained counsellor visits weekly. Each year group has a Pastoral Support Assistant and Coordinator of Learning. An Area Resource Base supports students with complex or multiple learning needs. LGBTQI+ support is explicitly available. The school runs a house system with charity-linked activities.

Question 8

What is the school's location and how do students travel?

Accepted Answer

Budehaven is located on the North Cornwall coast in Bude, serving the town and surrounding villages including Jacobstow, Kilkhampton, Marhamchurch, Morwenstow, Stratton and Whitstone. There is no formal catchment boundary. The adjacent Budehaven Leisure Centre provides additional facilities. Students travel from local primary schools and surrounding areas; families should verify transport links and journey times.

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