Great Torrington School

Great Torrington School is a fully inclusive, progressive school that welcomes pupils from all over North Devon and beyond. In 2023, GTS once again bucked the national trend, which has seen GCSE grades reduced to levels last seen in 2019, prior to the pandemic. Results across the school have continued an upward trend, with 76% of exams being graded at the equivalent of grade 4, or above, which is significantly higher than the national average.

GCSEs at grade 5 and above have shown notable improvement, with 53% of pupils achieving strong passes in both English and Math’s, with over two thirds of the pupils gaining grade 4 or above in both these subjects.  

We believe that every child has strengths and qualities that need to be nurtured for them to succeed academically and in life. Our ethos is to ensure that all pupils are able to make outstanding progress in their learning and personal development during their journey with us.

At GTS we believe that our unique atmosphere and ethos provides an environment in which our pupils can learn, grow, and flourish. The school sits at the heart of our local community meeting the diverse needs of the young people and families we serve. 

Headteacher

Mr Andy Bloodworth

Values and Vision

All the staff at GTS want our pupils to: Have their Dreams, Believe in themselves and Achieve.

DREAM BELIEVE ACHIEVE

Our Vision

GTS is committed to being a fully inclusive, safe school that educates in a holistic manner and promotes the wider personal development of every young person, equipping them to be global citizens. It will maximise pupil potential through providing opportunities, raising aspirations, and driving academic attainment.

Our Values

The core purpose of Great Torrington School is to create an inclusive community of successful learners. Our school community is built around a set of core values that shape our decisions and interactions.

• Respect - To enable pupils to establish social and personal relationships based on respect, understanding and co-operation.
• Relationships – To foster in our pupils an awareness to show tolerance and care towards others and develop the ability to create and sustain healthy relationships throughout their lives.
• Resilience – To encourage resilience in our pupils, through challenge, support, opportunities, and guidance. Giving meaning and enjoyment to the pupils’ present learning experience and to encourage self-motivation, a passion for learning and the ability to adapt to change throughout life.
• Health - To encourage all pupils to adopt a healthy lifestyle through the many activities offered at GTS.
• Opportunity - To provide equal opportunities for development for all members of the school community that will develop their skills and personal qualities.
• Responsibility - To prepare pupils to be responsible citizens within the community and to give them the flexibility and skills to meet the demands of a rapidly changing society.

Ofsted

On the 5th & 6th July 2022 the school was inspected by two Ofsted Inspectors. They evaluated Great Torrington School as a ‘Good’ school overall.

The inspectors reported that:

"Leaders have planned an ambitious and inclusive curriculum. Pupils regularly revisit what they have learned before and apply that to new learning."

"Staff are ambitious for every pupil. Teachers are passionate about their subjects, which motivates pupils. There are good relationships between staff and pupils."