Hawkchurch Church of England School, Axminster
Hawkchurch Church of England School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Axminster, part of The First Federation Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2010. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2024 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 7 schools in Axminster with published results, and 3,644th of 13,912 across England. It was 61% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2010)
- Capacity
- 61% full
- Attendance
- Below England average
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
Hawkchurch Church of England School in detail
Hawkchurch Church of England School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We believe that Hawkchurch is a very special place, where a dedicated emphasis on teaching and learning to high standards sits comfortably alongside the provision of a safe and happy space for our children to learn and develop as rounded, vibrant individuals."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2024, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Hawkchurch Church of England School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 70% in Devon and 76% and 74% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Hawkchurch Church of England School
Across Devon, 96% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
Admissions history and your chances at Hawkchurch Church of England School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Hawkchurch Church of England School are Marshwood CofE Primary Academy (2.2 miles, Requires improvement, 88% reading, 63% maths); All Saints Church of England Primary School (2.7 miles, Requires improvement, 90% reading, 70% maths); Thorncombe, St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy (2.8 miles); and Axminster Community Primary Academy (2.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths).
Marshwood CofE Primary AcademyAll Saints Church of England Primary SchoolThorncombe, St Mary's Church of England Primary AcademyAxminster Community Primary Academy
The trust
Hawkchurch Church of England School is one of 29 schools run by The First Federation 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
24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hawkchurch Church of England School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (67%).
Who goes there
41.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above 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.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (34.9%) received SEN support and 2 (4.7%) 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
Hawkchurch Church of England School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Hawkchurch Church of England School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hawkchurch Cross (se-bound), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often burglary, vehicle crime and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Devon (16).
Suspensions and exclusions
Hawkchurch Church of England 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 multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2010, 15 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This small school genuinely knows each child well and creates a nurturing environment where pupils feel happy and supported. Reading is a particular strength, with the school successfully helping pupils become confident readers who love books. The school enriches pupils' learning through community involvement, fundraising activities, and responsibility roles that build confidence and independence.
Key Strengths
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils with staff having detailed knowledge of individual learners
- Reading is prioritised effectively with pupils becoming confident, fluent readers who develop a love of reading for pleasure
- Early years provision is strong with focus on language development through songs, rhymes and stories
- Pupils are happy, get along well, and support each other because staff model positive behaviour
- Well-designed curriculum with staff making effective use of subject knowledge to adapt teaching
Areas for Improvement
- Design of some learning activities does not effectively consolidate knowledge and secure new learning in all areas
- Support for pupils with SEND addresses pastoral needs but does not fully extend to meeting their learning needs with precision
- Some curriculum areas attempt to cover too much content rather than prioritising important concepts
- A small number of pupils and families need continued support to reduce barriers to regular school attendance
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff alert to signs that children need additional support.
Extracurricular Activities
Fundraising activities, community events, responsibility roles within the school
Hawkchurch Church of England School is a small primary school in Devon with 41 pupils that welcomes and nurtures individuality while maintaining high expectations for all learners. The school provides a well-designed curriculum with strong relationships between staff and pupils, though some areas need refinement in learning activity design and support for pupils with SEND.
At a Glance
41.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
24 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Hawkchurch Church of England School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hawkchurch Church of England School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hawkchurch Church of England 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 Hawkchurch Church of England School
Will you get a place at Hawkchurch Church of England School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Hawkchurch Church of England School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Hawkchurch Church of England School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Hawkchurch Church of England School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Hawkchurch Church of England 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
61%
Available places
34 pupils
56 places
22 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Axminster
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Axminster
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.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
39.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
43
Total Pupils
26
Boys
17
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
10.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,754
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£11,030
Per pupil
£423k
Total funding
£20k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.8%
Overall absence
19.4%
Persistent absence
31
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Hawkchurch Church of England School
What are SATs results like at Hawkchurch Church of England School?
Of the pupils at Hawkchurch Church of England School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Hawkchurch Church of England School's Ofsted rating?
Hawkchurch Church of England School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2010, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Hawkchurch Church of England School?
No fixed boundary. When Hawkchurch Church of England 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 Hawkchurch Church of England School?
Hawkchurch Church of England School was not full in 2025: it ran at 61% of its 56 places.
How many pupils go to Hawkchurch Church of England School?
Hawkchurch Church of England School has around 43 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Hawkchurch Church of England School?
8.8% of sessions were missed at Hawkchurch Church of England School in 2024/25. 19.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hawkchurch Church of England School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Hawkchurch Church of England 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 Hawkchurch Church of England 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 Hawkchurch Church of England School?
Hawkchurch Church of England School is at Hawkchurch, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5XD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)