East-the-Water Community Primary School, Bideford
East-the-Water Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Bideford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 12 schools in Bideford with published results, and 6,834th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- 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 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
East-the-Water Community Primary School in detail
East-the-Water Community Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "At our excellent school we celebrate your child. We support them to care for others while valuing themselves. Here your child will develop their strengths, know their next steps in learning and achieve their goals. We teach all children to keep safe, be independent, make decisions and help each child to recognise the impact of their choice on others."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, gymnastics, cross-country, dance, choir, Lego and art.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at East-the-Water Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (78% in reading, 75% in maths).
Getting a place at East-the-Water Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 53 families put East-the-Water Community Primary School as their first choice and 73 named it as one of their preferences, for 55 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 East-the-Water Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to East-the-Water Community Primary School are West Croft School (0.9 miles, Good, 65% reading, 52% maths); St Mary's CofE Primary School (1 mile, 74% reading, 86% maths); St Margaret's Church of England Junior School (2.2 miles, 65% reading, 60% maths); and St George's CofE Infant and Nursery School (2.3 miles).
East-the-Water Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
West Croft SchoolSt Mary's CofE Primary SchoolSt Margaret's Church of England Junior SchoolSt George's CofE Infant and Nursery School
Who goes there
43.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 0.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of East-the-Water Community Primary School.
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (ne-bound), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 110 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.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, East-the-Water Community Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from February 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
43.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 78% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 75% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.8
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
29.4
KS2
13
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with East-the-Water Community Primary School
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to East-the-Water Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. East-the-Water Community 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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 East-the-Water Community Primary School
Will you get a place at East-the-Water Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against East-the-Water Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for East-the-Water Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to East-the-Water Community 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 East-the-Water Community Primary School for 2014 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
95%
Near capacity
400 pupils
420 places
20 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bideford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bideford
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(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
62
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
17.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
439
Total Pupils
239
Boys
200
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
19.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,521
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,621
Per pupil
£2576k
Total funding
£241k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
11.1%
Persistent absence
361
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
East-the-Water Community Primary School
Questions parents ask about East-the-Water Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at East-the-Water Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at East-the-Water Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is East-the-Water Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
East-the-Water Community Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for East-the-Water Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When East-the-Water Community 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 East-the-Water Community Primary School?
East-the-Water Community Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at East-the-Water Community Primary School?
Classes at East-the-Water Community Primary School average 29.8 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to East-the-Water Community Primary School?
East-the-Water Community Primary School has around 439 pupils on roll. 43% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at East-the-Water Community Primary School?
4.7% of sessions were missed at East-the-Water Community Primary School in 2024/25. 11.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to East-the-Water Community Primary School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming East-the-Water Community 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 East-the-Water Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 East-the-Water Community Primary School?
East-the-Water Community Primary School is at Mines Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4BZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)