Proposal to amend the catchment area for Bideford College and Atlantic Academy 2026-27

Devon County Council is considering proposals to amend the admission arrangements for Bideford College and Atlantic Academy for the 2026-27 academic year.

Currently, the catchment area for Bideford College extends from the town itself along the north Devon coast to include Parkham, Woolsery and Hartland. Atlantic Academy does not have a catchment area with priority for admission for its residents or linked primary schools.

Athena Learning Trust, the admission authority for both Atlantic Academy and Bideford College, proposes to introduce a catchment area for Atlantic and reduce the catchment for Bideford accordingly. This would mean that the primary school catchments for Hartland, Woolsery and part of Parkham would be in the Atlantic catchment and not the Bideford catchment. Priority for secondary transfer would switch from Bideford to Atlantic for pupils at those primary schools.

From 2026-27 the feeder primary schools for Atlantic would be:

• Hartland Primary School

• Parkham Primary School

• Woolsery Primary School

From 2026-27 the feeder primary schools for Bideford would be:

• Appledore Community Primary School

• East-the-Water Community Primary School

• Instow Community Primary School

• St Helen’s Church of England Primary School

• St Margaret’s Church of England Junior School

• St Mary’s Church of England Primary School

• West Croft School

For more information please see https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/apply-for-a-school-place/arrangements-and-policies/

Comments on any of the proposals can be made:

• To the schools themselves

• By emailing schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

• By writing to Admissions Policy Consultation, Room L60, County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QG