School Capacity – National, Regional and Devon

Recent data analysis by the government has shown that the number of unfilled primary school places has increased by 6% nationally over the last year as demographic changes take hold.

Primary pupil numbers have been falling since academic year 2018/19 as a population bulge caused by a 2000s baby boom has moved out of primary in to secondary schools. Secondary school pupil numbers are forecast to keep rising until 2027/28 and then fall thereafter.

The 2023/24 data shows that nationally 12.3% of primary places are unfilled, in the South West the figure is 15.5%. For Devon 17.9% of primary places are unfilled.

For secondary schools nationally 11.16% of places are unfilled, in the South West it is 14.5%. For Devon 20.3% of secondary places are unfilled.

Amongst the 15 local authorities that make up the South West Region, Devon has the largest amount of unfilled places as a total of secondary and primary schools.

Around 18% of state-funded schools were at or in excess of capacity in 2023/24. This is similar to the academic years from 2020/21 to 2022/23 and lower than earlier years. The figure for the whole of the South West Region was 14%, with Devon at 15% of primary and secondary schools at or in excess of capacity.