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catchment.school

The Park Community School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

The Park Community School is an academy converter secondary school in Barnstaple, Devon , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1435 pupils, and a capacity of 1500 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

1,435

Pupils

1,500

Capacity

96%

Fill rate

Requires improvement

Ofsted 2023

The Park Community School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Park Community School?

The catchment area for The Park Community School is the geographic zone Devon uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Devon publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, The Park Community School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Devon. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 96% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if The Park Community School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Devon before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Devon catchment area documents →

The Park Community School: 1500 places, 96% filled: nearing capacity

The Park Community School has a published admission number of 1500 places. 1435 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 96%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1500, Devon's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 24.2% of pupils at The Park Community School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Devon.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Devon publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Devon Council school admissions (official) →

The Park Community School: School Information

Full address
Park Lane, Barnstaple, EX32 9AX
Local authority
Devon
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
24.2% of pupils
DfE URN
146094

Other Secondary Schools in Barnstaple

If The Park Community School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Barnstaple are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Park Community School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Park Community School

What is the catchment area for The Park Community School?

The catchment area for The Park Community School is the geographic zone Devon uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Devon publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is The Park Community School oversubscribed?

The Park Community School is operating close to its capacity of 1500 places (96% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for The Park Community School?

Admission to The Park Community School is managed by Devon. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does The Park Community School cover?

The Park Community School is a secondary school in Barnstaple, Devon, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for The Park Community School?

The Park Community School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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