Ages 
Does exactly what all parents wish their local school would do: provide a first-class education for everybody. All good schools inspire strong admiration. King’s is a good school. Of these, a small fraction inspire strong affection. King’s is one of these precious few.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,094 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 197 ·
- Local authority
- Devon County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Headteacher
Mr Rob Gammon
Since 2016, Rob Gammon BSc PGCE. Educated at Enfield Grammar and Loughborough University: physical education, sports science and physics. Began teaching in 1997 in Lincs. Came first to King’s in 2006 as deputy head responsible for the school’s
Entrance
The school is oversubscribed, so you need to live in the catchment area. Admissions criteria as per customary local authority procedure. Brilliant induction process - a whole week in school at the end of the summer term so you feel you belong when
- Open days
- September
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
After GCSE up to half depart to pursue vocational courses at Exeter College. After sixth form, 65 per cent to university (Cardiff most popular). Around 35 per cent to apprenticeships or work. The odd one or two to Oxbridge most years (two in
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2025, 29 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 54 per cent 9-5 in both maths and English; 21 per cent A*/A at A level (45 per cent A*-B).
GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
King’s is a comprehensive school. Actually, it’s an academy but retains the heart and mind of a comprehensive: it exists to provide a good education for every single boy and girl locally, regardless of gifts or calibre. This is as much about ideology
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Special needs provision famous, making the school attractive to students outside the catchment area who have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP). These students can name the school they want to go to, adding somewhat to pressure on places.
Arts & extracurricular
By no means a superabundance of lunchtime and after-school clubs compared with some schools but what there is is well chosen and ample, said parents and students. Plenty of sport. Some exam support. General interest activities include writers’ group,
Sport
King’s was a specialist sports college in the days when specialisms were à la mode and, with a sporty headteacher, remains a sporty kind of place. The head told us, ‘Sport is right at the heart of what we do; it develops skills for leadership’. In
Ethos & heritage
This is a venerable school. Founded 1335 as a choir school, became a grammar in 1545, a comprehensive in 1982 and an academy in 2011. Of its former days not a wrack survives, not a ruinous oratory, not yet so much as a fragment of stained glass. Its
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
There are four houses (all named after men) and your house is where pastoral care is based in a tutor group which is vertical by age. Aside from the formal pastoral structure care is, in Mr Gammon’s words, ‘all about depth’, meaning that everyone
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review The policy is a very straight forward ‘off and away’ whilst students are on the school site. This applies to years 7-11 only. Sixth Form students can use the their phone whilst on the school site although their use is restricted to learning activities on in the classroom.
Pupils & parents
Nice place to live, Ottery, twixt moor and sea, where incomers aren’t given the silent treatment as can happen further west. People move here for the community spirit and, in droves, the school, which has added a good 10 per cent to house prices.
Money matters
All Devon schools have for years suffered from below average funding and King’s receives less even than the average for Devon. If King’s were in Birmingham the school’s income would be boosted by a million pounds a year. Impressive therefore to see
The last word
Does exactly what all parents wish their local school would do: provide a first-class education for everybody. All good schools inspire strong admiration. King’s is a good school. Of these, a small fraction inspire strong affection. King’s is one of
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection:
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Personal development | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
Full inspection: Outstanding
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
|---|
