Best secondary schools in Exeter
Devon-wide school lists need narrowing to your target Exeter sector first. This ranking covers 40 secondary schools in the Exeter local authority. Postcode area EX15 has the highest average school score (61.3 across 2 schools), while EX4 sits at the lower end (25.2). 85% of ranked Exeter secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Exeter on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Exeter comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Exeter
Positions 11–30 in the Exeter ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sidmouth College | 57.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 12 | Cranbrook Education Campus | 55.3 | Good | All-through |
| 13 | Queen Elizabeth's | 55.1 | Good | Secondary |
| 14 | Bideford College | 54.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 15 | Teign School | 51.9 | Good | Secondary |
| 16 | Dartmouth Academy | 49.9 | Good | All-through |
| 17 | Clyst Vale Community College | 47.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 18 | West Exe School | 47.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 19 | Braunton Academy | 46.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 20 | St James School | 44.4 | Good | Secondary |
| 21 | Pilton Community College | 42.6 | Good | Secondary |
| 22 | Cullompton Community College | 42.4 | Good | Secondary |
| 23 | St Luke's Church of England School | 41.4 | Good | Secondary |
| 24 | Isca Academy | 40.9 | Good | Secondary |
| 25 | The Park Community School | 35.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 26 | Atlantic Academy | 30.1 | Good | Secondary |
| 27 | Holsworthy Community College | 26.7 | Good | Secondary |
| 28 | Great Torrington School | 23 | Good | Secondary |
| 29 | Axe Valley Academy | 22.9 | Good | Secondary |
| 30 | Newton Abbot College | 21.2 | Good | Secondary |
Keep exploring Exeter
Questions about secondary schools in Exeter
What is the best secondary school in Exeter?
Colyton Grammar School is the top-ranked secondary school in Exeter (LocaleIQ score 99.3 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 78.8. The score combines Ofsted outcome, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and cohort-weighted percentile ranks within the Exeter secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Exeter?
Shaldon Primary School tops the Exeter primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 99). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 88% · higher 31%. See the full primary school ranking for Exeter for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Exeter have the best GCSE results?
Attainment 8 measures average GCSE grades across eight subjects; Progress 8 compares actual grades against predictions based on KS2 — a positive figure means pupils outperformed expectations. Top performers in Exeter: Colyton Grammar School (Attainment 8 78.8); The King's School (Attainment 8 51.9); Uffculme School (Attainment 8 52.8). Both metrics feed into the LocaleIQ secondary school score.
Which secondary schools in Exeter are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
1 secondary school in the Exeter ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Colyton Grammar School. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Exeter?
This ranking covers 40 secondary schools in the Exeter comparison pool. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Exeter has the best secondary schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, EX15 has the strongest cluster — 61.3 average across 2 ranked secondary schools. EX4 sits at the lower end (25.2 average). Devon-wide school lists need narrowing to your target Exeter sector first. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.