Orchard Vale Community School

General Information

Address: Westacott Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, EX32 8QY
Phone: 01271375074
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Fiona Pearce
Age range: 3-11 years
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Number of pupils: 311
School capacity: 368
Pupils eligible for free school meals: 76
% eligible for free school meals: 26.4%
Nursery provision: Yes

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Behaviour information for this school has not been added yet.

Attendance

Overall absence: 4.3%
Persistently absent pupils: 7.3%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

SEN provision information for this school has not been added yet.

Pupils on SEN Support: 15.8%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 4.5%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 29 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 7 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 6 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 3 pupils
Other difficulty or disability: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Autistic spectrum disorder: 6 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 6 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 2 pupils

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

Behaviour

–

Openness

–

Teaching Quality

–

School Ethos

–

Ability to Deal with Problems

–

Headteacher Approval

–

Would recommend –

Give this school your first review

Educational Attainment

Good 2023 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Educational attainment data for this school has not been added yet.

View full Ofsted inspection report

Ranked #21 of 36 Ofsted Rating schools of this type in the area

#19Lynton Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#20North Molton Primary SchoolGood
#21Orchard Vale Community SchoolGood
#22Parracombe Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#23Rackenford Church of England Primary SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

#1Ashleigh CofE Primary SchoolGood
#2Berrynarbor Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#3Bishops Tawton Primary SchoolGood
#4Bratton Fleming Community Primary SchoolGood
#5Brayford AcademyGood
#6Caen Community Primary SchoolGood
#7Chulmleigh Primary SchoolGood
#8Combe Martin Primary SchoolGood
#9East Anstey Primary SchoolGood
#10East Worlington Primary SchoolGood
#11Georgeham Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#12Goodleigh Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#13Holywell Church of England SchoolGood
#14Instow Community Primary and Pre-SchoolGood
#15Kentisbury Primary SchoolGood
#16Kings Nympton Community Primary SchoolGood
#17Kingsacre Primary SchoolGood
#18Landkey Community Primary AcademyGood
#19Lynton Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#20North Molton Primary SchoolGood
#21Orchard Vale Community SchoolGood
#22Parracombe Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#23Rackenford Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#24Roundswell Community Primary AcademyGood
#25South Molton Community Primary SchoolGood
#26Southmead SchoolGood
#27Sticklepath Community Primary AcademyGood
#28Swimbridge Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#29Umberleigh Primary AcademyGood
#30West Down SchoolGood
#31Witheridge Church of England Primary AcademyGood
#32Woolacombe SchoolGood
#33Yeo Valley Primary SchoolGood
#34Eden Park AcademyRequires improvement
#35Marwood SchoolRequires improvement
#36South Molton United CofE Primary SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Financial summary information for this school has not been added yet.

Spending per pupil: £6,744 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

Ranked #20 of 36 Spending Per Pupil schools of this type in the area

#18Southmead School£6,848
#19West Down School£6,802
#20Orchard Vale Community School£6,744
#21Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple£6,664
#22Caen Community Primary School£6,616

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

#1Shirwell Community Primary School£14,000
#2Bratton Fleming Community Primary School£11,721
#3Holywell Church of England School£11,012
#4Brayford Academy£10,828
#5Kentisbury Primary School£10,349
#6Georgeham Church of England Primary School£9,143
#7East Anstey Primary School£9,085
#8East Worlington Primary School£8,965
#9Ashleigh CofE Primary School£8,476
#10Umberleigh Primary Academy£7,792
#11Swimbridge Church of England Primary School£7,601
#12Bishops Tawton Primary School£7,383
#13Horwood and Newton Tracey Community Primary School£7,313
#14South Molton United CofE Primary School£7,031
#15Kingsacre Primary School£6,952
#16Goodleigh Church of England Primary School£6,893
#17Witheridge Church of England Primary Academy£6,864
#18Southmead School£6,848
#19West Down School£6,802
#20Orchard Vale Community School£6,744
#21Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple£6,664
#22Caen Community Primary School£6,616
#23Instow Community Primary and Pre-School£6,544
#24Woolacombe School£6,302
#25Combe Martin Primary School£6,000
#26Chulmleigh Primary School£5,529
#27Marwood School£4,186
#28Eden Park Academy£4,155
#29Landkey Community Primary Academy£3,833
#30North Molton Primary School£3,789
#31Sticklepath Community Primary Academy£3,463
#32Newport Community School Primary Academy£3,451
#33Fremington Primary School£2,976
#34South Molton Community Primary School£2,974
#35Roundswell Community Primary Academy£2,644
#36Yeo Valley Primary School£54

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)