Alphington Primary School, Exeter
Alphington Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Exeter, part of Exeter Learning Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 19th-highest of the 48 schools in Exeter with published results, and 5,545th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Devon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Alphington Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Alphington Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 81% in reading and 89% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Alphington Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 48 families put Alphington Primary School as their first choice and 72 named it as one of their preferences, for 49 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Alphington Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Alphington Primary School are Ide Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 84% reading, 76% maths); St Thomas Primary School (1 mile, Good, 77% reading, 57% maths); Bowhill Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 73% reading, 72% maths); and Montgomery Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 76% reading, 69% maths).
Alphington Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Ide Primary SchoolSt Thomas Primary SchoolBowhill Primary SchoolMontgomery Primary School
The trust
Alphington Primary School is one of 4 schools run by Exeter Learning Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
87 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Alphington Primary School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).
Who goes there
15.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 67 pupils (14.2%) received SEN support and 13 (2.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Marsh Barton, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wheatsheaf Way (ne-bound), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 93 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Alphington Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Alphington Primary School are West Exe School (0.5 miles), Matford Brook Academy (1 mile), Isca Academy (1.3 miles) and Atkinson Secure Children's Home (1.3 miles).
West Exe SchoolMatford Brook AcademyIsca AcademyAtkinson Secure Children's Home
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Alphington Primary is an inclusive, caring school where pupils genuinely enjoy learning. The school excels at teaching reading through skilled phonics instruction and provides excellent support for children with additional needs. Beyond academics, the school enriches pupils' lives through trips, clubs, and activities that develop healthy, well-rounded young people.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics and reading programme with well-trained staff helping pupils read fluently and accurately
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs, including the specialist 'Owl class' for personalised support
- Well-structured curriculum in many subjects that helps pupils build knowledge over time
- Inclusive school culture where pupils behave well, feel cared for, and are enthusiastic learners
- Excellent enrichment activities including clubs, trips (zoo, museum, chocolate-making), and wraparound care
Areas for Improvement
- A few foundation subjects lack well-developed curriculum design, meaning pupils don't build knowledge as securely
- Staff in some subjects need better training in subject knowledge and teaching approaches
- Some parents have suggested improvements to school communication
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Football, dance, breakfast club, after-school wraparound care, trips to museum and zoo, chocolate-making activity
Alphington Primary School has successfully maintained the high standards from its previous inspection. The school is part of Exeter Learning Academy Trust and continues to provide effective education with strong pupil engagement and care.
At a Glance
15.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
87 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 89% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 75% to 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.9
Avg class size
26.2
Infant (KS1)
32.3
KS2
16
Total classes
6 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Alphington Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Alphington Primary School.
- West Exe School - Theatretrain730m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Alphington Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Alphington Primary School is in Devon; for families living there:
- Devon's school travel policy: Free school transport
- How to apply: Apply for free school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 33
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 28 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
10 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Alphington Primary School
Will you get a place at Alphington Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Alphington Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Alphington Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Alphington Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Alphington Primary School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Devon got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
411 pupils
406 places
5 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Exeter
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Exeter
Across Devon council
Places available
9,014
Applications
6,494
Got 1st preference
96.5%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
67
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
16.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
472
Total Pupils
247
Boys
225
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
23.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,199
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2176k
Total funding
£61k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
10.2%
Persistent absence
372
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Alphington Primary School
Questions parents ask about Alphington Primary School
What are SATs results like at Alphington Primary School?
Of the pupils at Alphington Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is Alphington Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Alphington Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Alphington Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Alphington Primary School is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Alphington Primary School?
Alphington Primary School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Alphington Primary School?
Classes at Alphington Primary School average 27.9 pupils (2025/26). 6 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Alphington Primary School?
Alphington Primary School has around 472 pupils on roll. 16% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Alphington Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Alphington Primary School in 2024/25. 10.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Alphington Primary School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Alphington Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Alphington Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Alphington Primary School: West Exe School - Theatretrain (730m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Alphington Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 28 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 10 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Alphington Primary School?
Alphington Primary School is at Wheatsheaf Way, Alphington, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8RQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)