Exmouth Community College

Curriculum, teaching and assessment are developed to support wellbeing and recognise neurodiversity while maintaining academic standards.

“Developing the curriculum and teaching, learning and assessment methods to optimise mental health and wellbeing, recognising neurodiversity, while maintaining academic standards.”

Students without grade 4 in GCSE English or maths receive appropriate specialist teaching to support success.

“We ensure that our students who have yet to achieve a grade 4 in GCSE English and/or maths have appropriate teaching to enable them to succeed this year. We meet the teaching hours requirements with maths and English specialist teachers.”

The sixth form identifies support needs early, and every student is known by the pastoral team and teachers.

“The success and popularity of our Sixth Form is centred on knowing students really well, identifying when intervention is required early and ensuring every student is supported, which we can do more effectively, since each student is known by the pastoral team and their teachers.”

Every student receives a personal tutor offering one-to-one academic, social and applications support.

“We will allocate you a personal tutor, who will give you one-to-one support with everything, from academic and social issues, to job, college and university applications throughout your time in Sixth Form.”

The provision is small enough for staff to know students individually while still offering a broad curriculum.

“The advantage offered by our provision is that we are small enough to be able to know students as individuals, yet at the same time offer a really broad curriculum which meets the needs of the vast majority of learners.”

Students work in smaller groups.

“We place far greater emphasis on treating students in a far more mature way, developing their independence and working with them in smaller groups, in a more bespoke and individual way.”

Year 13 students can undertake an AQA Level 3 Extended Project that earns UCAS points and develops a personally selected area of study.

“In Year 13, students will be given the opportunity to carry out an AQA Level 3 Extended Project. This qualification is worth valuable UCAS points and will develop and extend an area of study or a topic of personal interest.”

Students can book next-steps meetings with a dedicated careers team.

“During your time in the Sixth Form, you will be given support and guidance as Exmouth Community College has a dedicated careers team who are available for you to book a next steps meeting with.”

The college values respect for and acceptance of diversity.

“Diversity, in all its forms, is being respected and embraced.”

Students, staff and families should have a voice and feel part of one team.

“Everyone in our community (students, staff and families) has a voice and feels like they are part of our ‘one team’, pulling in the same direction.”

Ofsted reported that post-16 students made strong course progress and that A-Level progress was above the national average.

“Post 16, students make strong progress on their courses because they are motivated to succeed and are well taught. Students' progress on A Level programmes is above the National Average.”

Level 3 provision includes rigorous two-year A Level and BTEC programmes.

“Our Level 3 A Levels and BTECs are rigorous two‑year programmes designed for students who achieve at least five grade 4s or above, including equivalent passes in English and Maths.”

Level 3 entry requires five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English, with additional requirements for some courses.

“Five GCSEs at 4 or above including GCSE Maths and English, plus some courses have additional requirements.”

Level 2 entry requires at least five grade 3 GCSEs, including equivalent passes in Maths and English.

“Students will need a minimum of five grade 3 GCSEs, including equivalent passes in Maths and English.”

Named 2025 destinations included Engineering at Southampton, Physical Geography at Exeter, Physiotherapy at Southampton, and Medicine at Plymouth.

“Amongst the highest achievers include Hugo Castro (A\*AA) who is going on to study Engineering at Southampton University, Chloe Mora (A\*AA) who will study Physical Geography at Exeter University, Imogen Hitchcock (A\*AB) who will study Physiotherapy at Southampton University and Dylan Hurst (AAB), who will go on to study Medicine at Plymouth University.”

In 2023, 88% of UCAS applicants were set to attend a university of their choice; 75% secured their first choice and 13% their insurance choice.

“88% of ECC UCAS applicants will be attending a university of their choice. 75% of our university applicants achieved their first-choice university place, with 13% achieving their insurance choice.”

In 2024, 30% of A-Level grades were A*-B, 57% were A*-C, and more than half of vocational grades were Distinction or better.

“At A-Level 30% of grades were at A\*-B, and 57% were at A\*-C grade. In Vocational qualifications, over half the grades achieved a Distinction or better.”

In 2025, A*-C grades rose by 6% year on year and the number of A*-A grades nearly doubled, producing the college's best results in recent years.

“This year's Sixth Form students exceeded expectations and achieved the best results in recent years with A\*- C grades up 6% compared to last year, and the number of A\*- A grades nearly doubling.”