Bearnes Voluntary Primary School, Newton Abbot

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils at Bearnes Voluntary Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 31% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 33% in reading and 33% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Bearnes Voluntary Primary School as their first choice and 12 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Bearnes Voluntary Primary School are All Saints Marsh CofE Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 85% reading, 92% maths); Wolborough Church of England Nursery and Primary School (0.2 miles, 74% reading, 67% maths); Highweek Community Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 58% maths); and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 71% reading, 86% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Bearnes Voluntary Primary School.

Bearnes Voluntary Primary School is one of 23 schools run by Link Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bearnes Voluntary Primary School (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 78% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (78%).

43% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 31 pupils (31%) received SEN support and 5 (5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Bearnes Voluntary Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Newton Abbot Rail Station, about 460 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (w-bound), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bearnes Voluntary Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 234 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Bearnes Voluntary Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Bearnes Voluntary Primary School are South Devon UTC (0.2 miles), Newton Abbot College (0.4 miles), Coombeshead Academy (0.6 miles) and Teign School (1.6 miles).