Burlescombe Church of England Primary School, Tiverton
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Tiverton, part of Alumnis Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 15 schools in Tiverton with published results, and 3,012th of 14,452 across England. It was 59% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Devon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School in detail
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Friday 6 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 73% in reading and 45% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Burlescombe Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 6 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Burlescombe Church of England Primary School are Webber's Church of England Primary School (1.4 miles, 100% reading, 50% maths); Stawley Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 89% reading, 89% maths); Uffculme Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 72% reading, 72% maths); and Culmstock Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths).
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Webber's Church of England Primary SchoolStawley Primary SchoolUffculme Primary SchoolCulmstock Primary School
The trust
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School is one of 6 schools run by Alumnis Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
3.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 2 pupils (6.7%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.
Staffing
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Tiverton Parkway Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rail Bridge (sw-bound), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 9 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Devon (16).
Suspensions and exclusions
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Burlescombe Church of England Primary School (URN 113350), it was rated Good in January 2017.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at teaching reading and phonics, with all Year 1 pupils passing their screening checks. Pupils enjoy excellent behaviour, strong relationships with staff, and a welcoming village school atmosphere where they feel proud and safe. The school provides enriching experiences like residential outdoor education trips and visits to London and the zoo that bring learning to life and help children develop independence and resilience.
Key Strengths
- Teaching of phonics is a strength with all Year 1 pupils passing their phonics screening check - early reading is central to pupils' learning
- Pupils' personal development is strong - they understand online safety, learn about different beliefs, and have opportunities for trips to London, the zoo and the coastline
- Behaviour and attendance are excellent - pupils behave well, show mutual care and respect across age groups, and have high attendance rates
- Early years provision is good with a warm, inviting environment balancing academic skills with outdoor learning
- New headteacher has been welcomed by the school community and has quickly identified areas for improvement
Areas for Improvement
- The school has not identified the essential knowledge pupils need to know and remember, so teachers do not know which content to emphasise and pupils cannot recall or make connections in learning
- Assessment is not precise enough and pupils receive ineffective feedback - teachers design tasks that do not match what pupils already know and can do
- Targets set for pupils with special educational needs are not sufficiently precise, meaning these pupils do not receive appropriate support and do not achieve as well as they should
- Work across the curriculum lacks appropriate rigour - other areas do not have the same systematic approach as reading
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils feeling safe and knowing there is a trusted adult they can speak to if they have a concern.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips to outdoor education centres (paddle boarding, orienteering), school council roles, 'inspiring speaker' assemblies, competitive sporting activities, visits to London, zoo, and local coastline
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School is a small primary school with 45 pupils that requires improvement in the quality of education and leadership and management. While the school has good behaviour and personal development, pupils have not learned the important knowledge needed for the next stage of their education.
At a Glance
23.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 73% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 45% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 64% to 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
15.0
Avg class size
10.0
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Burlescombe Church of England Primary School
Summer Term July 2026
22 Jul 2026
Summer Term 2026
30 Apr 2026
School News Spring Term 2 -2026
24 Feb 2026
School News 20th December 2024
16 Jan 2025
School News 29th November 2024
3 Dec 2024
School News 15th November 2024
15 Nov 2024
From Burlescombe Church of England Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Burlescombe Church of England Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Burlescombe Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Burlescombe Church of England 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Burlescombe Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Burlescombe Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Burlescombe Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Burlescombe Church of England 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 Burlescombe Church of England Primary School for 2023 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
59%
Available places
44 pupils
74 places
30 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Tiverton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Tiverton
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
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
6.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
30
Total Pupils
15
Boys
15
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
7.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,193
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,856
Per pupil
£457k
Total funding
£18k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
15.0%
Persistent absence
40
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Burlescombe Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 86% reached the expected standard in reading and 86% did so in maths.
What is Burlescombe Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Burlescombe Church of England Primary School (URN 113350), it was rated Good in January 2017.
What is the catchment area for Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Burlescombe Church of England 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 Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 59% of its 74 places.
How big are the classes at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School average 15 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School has around 30 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Burlescombe Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 15% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Burlescombe Church of England 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.
How many road collisions happen near Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Burlescombe Church of England Primary School?
Burlescombe Church of England Primary School is at Station Road, Burlescombe, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 7JH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)