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Schools in South Molton

A town in Devon

  • Town
  • 5 schools and nurseries
  • 1,120 pupils

In short: Most primary schools here are rated Good or better, about the same as across England. Results at 11 are below England, and results at 16 were close to England in 2026. Missing school is a bigger problem than across England.

Three children with backpacks crossing a street
A red-brick school building under a blue sky

South Molton at a glance

Behind England on results at 11

How South Molton's schools compare with England, area by area.

DfE and Ofsted data, 2014 to 2026How we work this out
  • Schools and nurseries52 primary · 1 secondary · 2 nurseries
  • Primaries Good or better100%England 96%
  • Met the standard at 1158%England 62%
  • Grade 5 in English and maths45%Attainment 8 48.4, England 46.2
  • Free school meals, primary29%A sign of family income
  • Missed a lot of school25%England 18%
Top-rated

The highest-rated schools in South Molton

Primary and secondary schools are ranked by Eduscope score, which weighs up results, inspections, attendance and more. Nurseries, special and independent schools aren't ranked. A high score isn't everything: always visit.

All South Molton primary schools

Top Primary Schools in South Molton

2 mainstream schools in South Molton, best first

Top Secondary Schools in South Molton

1 mainstream schools in South Molton, best first

South Molton Community College

South Molton, EX36 4LA · State · Secondary · Ages 11 to 16

  • Ofsted:Good in every area

Results close to the England average.

118 first choices, 120 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1648.4

England 46.2

Days missed
11.1%
Pupils
656
Pupils per teacher
19.4
View school South Molton Community College

Nurseries in South Molton

2 in South Molton, highest Ofsted grade first

The map

Every school in South Molton, on one map

Each dot is a school or nursery, coloured by its latest Ofsted grade. Point at a dot to see its name, or use the list.

See them as a list
Show
South Molton Community College, Good in every areaSouth Molton Community Primary School, GoodSouth Molton United CofE Primary School, Needs attention in 1 areaKiddywinks Neighbourhood Nursery And Pre School, GoodTarka Tots Ltd - South Molton, Good
  • Good3
  • Not graded yet2
Before you apply

Apply through the council where you live

Your home council handles your application, wherever the school is. Living nearby doesn't guarantee a place: each school's admission rules decide.

By age

What's on offer for each age

Pick a stage to see every South Molton school for that age, with filters for type, faith and Ofsted grade.

More ways to narrow it down

Here's how South Molton's schools break down by type, faith and more.

Postcodes

Browse South Molton by postcode

Some areas, like parts of a bigger town, are easiest to find by postcode.

South Molton vs England

How good are South Molton's schools?

Inspections, exam results and attendance, next to the figure for England where we have it.

Worked out by Eduscope from each school's published figures. Not an official statistic for this town.

Numbers that sum up South Molton

South MoltonEngland

  • Primaries rated Good or Outstanding

    Latest Ofsted grade, 1 primaries with one.

    100%

    England 96%

    Close to England

  • Met the expected standard at 11

    Reading, writing and maths.

    58%

    England 62%

    Below England

  • Grade 5 or above in English and maths

    At GCSE.

    45%

  • Pupils who miss a lot of school

    Missed 1 in 10 days or more. Lower is better.

    25%

    England 18%

    Worse than England

  • Primary pupils on free school meals

    A sign of family income, not of school quality.

    29%

Ofsted grades

Latest graded inspection for the 1 school that has one.

100%

Good or Outstanding

  • Outstanding0
  • Good1
  • Requires improvement0
  • Inadequate0

How it has changed

South Molton in blue. There were no tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.

Met the expected standard at 11
Covid gap30%50%70%20182019202320242025
58% in 2025. England now 62% (dashed line).
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Covid gap20%40%60%2018201920222023202420252026
45% in 2026.
Pupils who miss a lot of school
Covid gap0%20%40%20142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
25% in 2025. England now 18% (dashed line).
Living here

What it's like for families

South Molton has 5 schools and nurseries.

There are 16% more pupils than in 2018.

29% of primary pupils here get free school meals. Schools get extra money for each of them.

Pupil numbers

Pupils in South Molton's state schools each January.

Up 16% since 2018. More children can mean popular schools fill up faster.

Free school meals

Out of every 10 primary pupils, how many get free school meals. It's a sign of family income, not of school quality.

South Molton29%

Dates to know

Apply through your local council, even for academies and faith schools.

  • 31 OctSecondary deadlineFor children starting Year 7.
  • 15 JanPrimary deadlineFor children starting Reception.
  • 1 MarSecondary offersOffers day for Year 7 places.
  • 16 AprPrimary offersOffers day for Reception places.

Keep up with schools in South Molton

Follow any school and we'll email you when it gets a new Ofsted report or new results are out. Nothing else.

Questions

Questions parents ask about South Molton

How many schools are in South Molton?

South Molton has 5 schools, including 2 primary schools, 1 secondary school, 2 nurseries. Some count in more than one group. You can browse each category using the filters on Eduscope.

What are the best schools in South Molton?

The highest-ranked schools in South Molton on Eduscope are South Molton Community College, South Molton Community Primary School, South Molton United CofE Primary School. We rank each state school against schools of the same phase across England on its Ofsted inspection, results and attendance. Independent, special and nursery schools aren't ranked.

What percentage of schools in South Molton are rated Good or Outstanding?

100% of inspected schools in South Molton hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating, which is above the England average of 94.8%. This includes 0 schools rated Outstanding and 1 rated Good.

How do primary schools in South Molton perform at Key Stage 2?

Across primary schools in South Molton, 58% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2. This is based on the latest published results from the Department for Education.

What is the average pupil-teacher ratio in South Molton?

The average pupil-teacher ratio across schools in South Molton is 20.0:1. While not a direct measure of class size, this indicates the level of teaching resource available per pupil. Across England it is 17.9:1.

What is the persistent absence rate in South Molton schools?

The persistent absence rate across schools in South Molton is 24.6%. A pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of school sessions. Across England it is 18.1%.

How many pupils attend schools in South Molton?

There are 1,120 pupils enrolled across schools in South Molton, with 464 in primary and 656 in secondary. 24.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

How do I choose the right school in South Molton?

Start by considering your child's age, your location, and whether you prefer a state or independent school. Use Eduscope to compare 5 schools in South Molton by Ofsted ratings, exam results, and distance. Filter by school type, gender, religious character, and admissions policy to narrow your options.

Sources: DfE school performance tables, DfE school census and workforce, DfE pupil absence, Ofsted. Photos are stand-ins.

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