Kingsbridge Academy Review 2026: A Community Hub in the South Hams

Sitting high on the hill overlooking the estuary, Kingsbridge Academy serves as the educational anchor for a vast rural catchment in the South Hams. This is not merely a school but a civic hub; the campus facilities blur the lines between student life and community activity.

The academy caters to approximately 1,300 students aged 11 to 18, including a large and active Sixth Form. As a member of Education South West, it benefits from a collaborative network while retaining a fiercely distinct local identity. The school was rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023, confirming its status as a reliable provider of education in the region.

Leadership is stable and rooted in the community. Mrs Tina Graham has served as Principal since 2017, having previously been Vice Principal. Her tenure has focused on maintaining academic standards while navigating the challenges of rural isolation. The ethos here is one of practical ambition; students are encouraged to look outward, beyond the rolling hills of Devon, while valuing the tight-knit community they call home.

The campus on Balkwill Road feels expansive, a mix of functional mid-century blocks and modern additions that reflect sustained investment. The presence of the public on site creates a mature atmosphere; students are used to sharing their space and treating it with respect.

Arrival at the school reveals a bustling environment. With a large catchment area, many students arrive by bus from surrounding villages. This logistical reality shapes the school day, with a flurry of activity at start and end times, yet the site manages to feel orderly.

The school operates a House system that provides a smaller sense of belonging within the larger college. Competitions are fierce and genuine, covering everything from sport to creative arts. The visual identity of the school is smart but practical, with a uniform that students wear with a relaxed adherence typical of the region.

Inside classrooms, the atmosphere is purposeful. The 2023 Ofsted inspection noted that pupils behave well and are polite to staff and visitors. There is a knowledge-rich curriculum in place, evidenced by walls adorned with timelines and key terminology rather than just decorative displays. The library is a central hub, well-used and stocked, reflecting a push on literacy that permeates all year groups.

Kingsbridge Academy delivers solid academic outcomes that consistently outpace local averages. In 2024, the school ranked 1st among secondary schools in Kingsbridge, cementing its position as the premier choice in the immediate area.

At GCSE, 25.5% of grades awarded were 9-7 (A*-A), a figure that speaks to a capable high-attaining cohort. The Attainment 8 score of 48.4 is respectable, sitting above the England average of roughly 46. This indicates that students generally achieve high grades across their suite of eight subjects.

Progress 8, a measure of value-added from primary school starting points, was -0.28 in 2024. This suggests that while raw grades are good, some students make slightly less progress than their peers nationally with similar prior attainment. Parents should view this in context; the cohort often enters with high Key Stage 2 scores, and maintaining that trajectory is statistically challenging.

The school ranks 1,494th in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the top third of schools nationally (25th to 60th percentile, or "national typical").

In the Sixth Form, performance is particularly robust. The school ranks 1,106th in England for A-level outcomes. In 2024, half of all grades (50.19%) were A*-B, a strong indicator of university readiness. The proportion of top grades (A*-A) stood at roughly 16%, confirming that the Sixth Form provides a viable pathway for academically ambitious students.

The curriculum at Kingsbridge is broad and balanced, resisting the narrowing seen in some schools. Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) retains a full suite of arts, technology, and humanities subjects. The school champions a knowledge-rich approach, where lessons are structured to ensure long-term retention of core facts and concepts.

In Science, the department benefits from well-equipped laboratories that allow for regular practical work. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics are popular at A-level, fed by a strong uptake of Triple Science at GCSE.

The Arts are a defining pillar. Drama and Music are taught in professional-grade spaces. This infrastructure allows for a curriculum that includes technical theatre skills, lighting, and sound engineering alongside performance. It is rare for a state school to offer such industry-standard exposure.

Languages are promoted actively, with French and Spanish forming the core offer. The school organises exchange trips and visits, essential for students in a geographically isolated peninsula to build cultural capital.

Support for pupils with SEN is described as well integrated. The Learning Support department operates as a hub for intervention, with teaching assistants deployed strategically in core subjects. The school has a reputation for inclusivity, managing a wide range of needs within the mainstream setting.

The Sixth Form is a major engine for social mobility in the South Hams. In 2024, 32% of leavers progressed to university. While this figure is lower than some urban averages, it is balanced by a remarkably high employment rate of 35%, reflecting strong links with the local economy and marine industries.

For those pursuing higher education, outcomes are impressive. In 2024, one student secured a place at Oxbridge, continuing a trend of regular acceptance to elite institutions. The school provides a structured "Futures" programme to support UCAS applications, with specific mentoring for early applicants (medicine, veterinary science, and Oxbridge).

Apprenticeships are a valued pathway, with 4% of the cohort securing placements. The school leverages local connections to find opportunities in engineering, boatbuilding, and hospitality management, sectors that are vital to the Kingsbridge economy.

Admission to Kingsbridge Academy is coordinated by Devon County Council. The school is popular and consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent intake, there were 220 applications for a Published Admission Number (PAN) of roughly 196 places, resulting in a subscription proportion of 1.12 applicants per place.

The oversubscription criteria prioritise Looked After Children and those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school. Following this, priority is given to children living within the designated catchment area, a large zone covering Kingsbridge and the surrounding villages. Siblings of current students also receive priority.

The final criterion is distance from the school gate. While specific distance cut-offs vary annually based on the density of applicants in the immediate town versus the villages, families living in the traditional catchment usually secure places. Families outside the catchment should exercise caution and have a backup plan.

Applications open in September and close on 31 October for entry the following September. National Offer Day is 2 March.

Pastoral care is organised through the House system, creating vertical communities where younger students can look up to Sixth Form leaders. Form tutors are the first point of contact and stay with their group as they move up the school, providing continuity and a stable adult relationship.

The school employs Pastoral Support Managers who are available throughout the day to deal with issues as they arise. This ensures that teachers can focus on teaching while students receive immediate support for anxiety, friendship issues, or behavioural concerns.

Mental health support includes access to school counsellors and external agencies. The school outlines clear expectations for conduct, focusing on respect and readiness to learn. Bullying is taken seriously; the 2023 inspection noted that students feel safe and know who to report concerns to.

Extracurricular life is a major strength, driven by the outstanding facilities.

The Arts

The theatre and arts spaces are the beating heart of the school's cultural life. Students can join the Jazz Band, the Soul Band, or the Orchestra. The annual school production is a community event, often involving over 100 students in cast and crew roles. Recent productions have included ambitious musicals that utilise the full technical capabilities of the theatre.

Sport

The sports facilities are extensive, shared with the local community. They include a large sports hall, squash courts, and an all-weather pitch. Rugby and netball are the primary winter sports, with competitive fixtures against schools across Devon. In summer, athletics and cricket take precedence. The proximity to the water means that opportunities for sailing and kayaking are also available through local partnerships.

Clubs and Societies

The extracurricular list is diverse. The Ten Tors challenge is a rite of passage for many, involving rigorous training on Dartmoor. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is popular, with high completion rates at Bronze and Silver levels. Academic clubs include the STEM Society, debating club, and a thriving eco-committee that works on sustainability initiatives across the campus.

The school day begins at 8:50 am and concludes at 3:20 pm. Transport is a significant factor for many families; a network of school buses serves the wider South Hams area. Parents should check eligibility for free transport with Devon County Council, as this depends on distance and the designation of the nearest school.

There is no on-site wraparound care for secondary students, though the library is typically open before and after school for homework and study.

Fees

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

Rural logistics. The school serves a wide geographic area. For students in outlying villages, the school day is extended by significant travel time. Parents should consider the impact of late buses on participation in after-school clubs.

Large size. With nearly 1,300 students, the school is large for a rural setting. While the House system mitigates this, quieter students will need to find their niche to avoid feeling lost in the crowd.

Sixth Form focus. The Sixth Form is integral to the school's identity and success. Families looking for a purely 11-16 environment might find the focus on post-16 progression dominant, though most see this as aspirational.

Admissions pressure. The school is oversubscribed. Families moving into the area mid-year or living on the catchment boundary should consult the admissions team early to gauge the likelihood of a place.

Kingsbridge Academy is more than a school; it is the civic and cultural heart of the South Hams. It combines the warm, inclusive atmosphere of a rural community school with facilities that many private schools would envy. Academic results are solid and the Sixth Form is a genuine strength. Best suited to families who want a well-rounded education where the arts and community involvement are valued as highly as exam grades. The main challenge is securing a place if you live on the catchment periphery.