South Molton Community College is a mainstream secondary school in South Molton, Devon, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 70 of its 656 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 26 (4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 656 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Devon.
10.7% get SEN support
70 of 656 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4% have an EHC plan
26 of 656 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism34
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia32
- Social, emotional and mental health14
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 656 (places for 750)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rachel Harper (Principal)
- Part of
- South Molton Co-operative Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 22% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Devon
- School reference (URN)
- 113512
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Devon council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, December 2024; school remains Good (December 2019)
Inspected in December 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, December 2019).
Contact and getting there
Old Alswear Road, South Molton, EX36 4LA
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Blackford Education (Schools) Ltd t/a the Libra School Independent · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 5.0 miles
- The Lampard Community School Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 9.8 miles
- Newport Community School Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 10.0 miles
- Pilton Community College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 11 miles
Other mainstream schools
- South Molton United CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 23.4%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.3 miles
- South Molton Community Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 18.6%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.6 miles
- Bishops Nympton Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 26.3%, EHC plans 5% 3.0 miles
Questions about South Molton Community College
How many pupils at South Molton Community College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 70 of the 656 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 26 (4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at South Molton Community College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (34 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (32 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (14 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at South Molton Community College?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at South Molton Community College?
Through Devon council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to South Molton Community College?
You can ask for South Molton Community College to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does South Molton Community College have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Newport Community School Primary Academy, about 10.0 miles away.
Where is South Molton Community College?
Old Alswear Road, South Molton, EX36 4LA, in Devon.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.