Budehaven Community School
Valley Road, Bude, EX23 8DQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Budehaven Community School is a secondary school in Bude for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 295 schools in Cornwall. It ranks 20th of 31 secondary schools in Cornwall. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 30 April 2024, report published 20 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 30 April 2024
Budehaven is a true community school. Many pupils come from a generation of families that have previously attended this school. They are proud to be a pupil here. The school is warm and welcoming. Staff are aspirational for what pupils have the potential to achieve. Pupils respond well to this encouragement. In their response to Ofsted's Parent View, many parents used the word 'thriving' to describe their child's experience at the school. Pupils benefit from many opportunities beyond the academic curriculum. For example, pupils visit the theatre, go on trips to London and Spain and engage in fundraising activities. Pupils choose from a range of extra-curricular activities which extend their talents and interests. These include Latin, space club, various sports teams, philosophy and parts in school productions. Pupils learn the attributes needed to be a successful leader. They take on roles, such as being a sports ambassador, library helper or form representative. Many pupils aspire to become a prefect or head student. Students in the sixth form take on responsibilities as part of the enrichment programme. For example, they become mentors and act as reading buddies for younger pupils. In all year groups, pupils are proud to have a leading role in the school community.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, checks on how well pupils understand the curriculum are not precise enough. As a result, some pupils have gaps in their knowledge or develop misconceptions which persist. The school should ensure that assessment checks carefully what pupils know and remember over time.
- Overall, pupils do not attend school regularly enough, particularly disadvantaged pupils. As a result, a significant number of pupils do not learn the full curriculum and are therefore not well prepared for their next steps. The school should continue to build on and embed the approaches that are starting to show some success in improving pupils' attendance.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
177 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
71 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,145 pupils on roll, with places for 1,516
Schools near Budehaven Community School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holsworthy Community College | 8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 39.9 |
| Atlantic Academy | 14 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 42.1 |
| St Josephs School | 15 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 46.7 |
| Shebbear College | 15 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 46.1 |
| Sir James Smith's School | 16 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 42.7 |
School details
- School type
- Foundation school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Trust
- The Bude Communities' Schools' Trust
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Dominic Wilkes
- Phone
- 01288353271
- Address
- Valley Road, Bude, EX23 8DQ
- Local authority
- Cornwall
- URN
- 112045
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.