Ilsham Church of England Academy, Torquay
Ilsham Church of England Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Torquay, part of Learning Academy Partnership (south West). It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 17 schools in Torquay with published results, and 1,534th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Torbay (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ilsham Church of England Academy in detail
Ilsham Church of England Academy in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include choir and Lego.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 6:00pm.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Ilsham Church of England Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 74% in Torbay and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 81% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Ilsham Church of England Academy
For September 2026 entry, 33 families put Ilsham Church of England Academy as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Ilsham Church of England Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ilsham Church of England Academy are Warberry CofE Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 92% maths); All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 57% reading, 73% maths); Ellacombe Church of England Academy (1 mile, Good, 84% reading, 89% maths); and Homelands Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 67% maths).
Ilsham Church of England Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Warberry CofE AcademyAll Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary SchoolEllacombe Church of England AcademyHomelands Primary School
The trust
Ilsham Church of England Academy is one of 22 schools run by Learning Academy Partnership (south West), an academy trust.
Who goes there
13.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 10.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 23 pupils (13.1%) received SEN support and 2 (1.1%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Torquay Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Matthias Church (sw-bound), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Ilsham Church of England Academy 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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2014, 12 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 June 2014 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
13.6%
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 81% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 85% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.2
Avg class size
23.5
Infant (KS1)
26.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Ilsham Church of England Academy
SIAMS Inspection Report 2026 - Celebrating Ilsham's Christian Vision
1 May 2026
Reading for Pleasure Gold Quality Mark
23 Jul 2024
Torbay and Devon Civic Award
16 Jul 2024
From Ilsham Church of England Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Ilsham Church of England Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ilsham Church of England Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ilsham Church of England Academy is in Torbay; for families living there:
Apply to Torbay for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 10 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Torbay is 18 (the median across 47 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 Ilsham Church of England Academy
Will you get a place at Ilsham Church of England Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ilsham Church of England Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ilsham Church of England Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ilsham Church of England Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Torbay, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Ilsham Church of England Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Torbay 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
101%
Over capacity
177 pupils
175 places
2 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Torquay
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Torquay
Across Torbay council
Places available
1,357
Applications
1,000
Got 1st preference
94.2%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Torbay council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
23
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
14.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
176
Total Pupils
80
Boys
96
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
19.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,420
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,268
Per pupil
£1025k
Total funding
£35k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.3%
Overall absence
3.3%
Persistent absence
153
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
Ilsham Church of England Academy
Questions parents ask about Ilsham Church of England Academy
What are SATs results like at Ilsham Church of England Academy?
Of the pupils at Ilsham Church of England Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 92% did so in maths.
What is Ilsham Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ilsham Church of England Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ilsham Church of England Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Ilsham Church of England Academy is oversubscribed, Torbay allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ilsham Church of England Academy?
Ilsham Church of England Academy was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Ilsham Church of England Academy?
Classes at Ilsham Church of England Academy average 25.2 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ilsham Church of England Academy?
Ilsham Church of England Academy has around 176 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ilsham Church of England Academy?
3.3% of sessions were missed at Ilsham Church of England Academy in 2024/25. 3.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ilsham Church of England Academy?
Apply through Torbay's coordinated admissions process, naming Ilsham Church of England Academy 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 Ilsham Church of England Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 10 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Torbay is 18 (the median across 47 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ilsham Church of England Academy?
Ilsham Church of England Academy is at Ilsham Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2JQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)