Bishops Tawton Primary School, Barnstaple

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Bishops Tawton Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Most pupils achieve well by the time they leave Year 6, which is reflected in national tests."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils enjoy coming to school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders generally have an informed and accurate view of teaching and the curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years get off to a positive start."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school is committed to ensuring all pupils are included in all aspects of school life."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context and know the areas for development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's provision for personal development and wellbeing is designed to celebrate what is on offer in the local community as well as to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to provide training and support for staff so that they implement the school's phonics programme consistently well, enabling pupils to become fluent readers"; "Leaders should ensure that interactions between adults and children in the early years are used well to enhance learning and extend children's language and thinking"; "Leaders should support pupils to further deepen and retain their knowledge of the personal development curriculum"; "Governors should strengthen their oversight, support and challenge in specific aspects of the school's development work so that they are consistently robust across all areas".

In its own words: "Both now and for the future we are committed to providing for all our learners; We are friendly, polite and welcoming; our school is a happy place to be. 'The school is a real community, with links to the wider community. It has set my children up perfectly for life in the wider world. ' Ofsted 2019"

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Bishops Tawton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 65% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 85% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Bishops Tawton Primary School as their first choice and 34 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Bishops Tawton Primary School are Holywell Church of England School (0.9 miles, Good, 82% reading, 73% maths); Newport Community School Primary Academy (1.2 miles, Outstanding, 69% reading, 63% maths); Eden Park Academy (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, 79% reading, 75% maths); and Ashleigh CofE Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 79% reading, 82% maths).

Bishops Tawton Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

6.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 7 pupils (4.3%) received SEN support and 1 (0.6%) 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.

Bishops Tawton Primary School had 13 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 Barnstaple Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Bridge (nw-bound), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Devon (16).

In 2024/25, Bishops Tawton Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.