Marhamchurch CofE Academy, Bude
Marhamchurch CofE Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bude, part of Learning Academy Partnership (south West). It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 6 schools in Bude with published results, and 10,716th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 103% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cornwall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Marhamchurch CofE Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at Marhamchurch CofE Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 65% in reading and 50% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Marhamchurch CofE Academy
For September 2026 entry, 16 families put Marhamchurch CofE Academy as their first choice and 33 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Marhamchurch CofE Academy are Bude Primary Academy - Juniors (1.7 miles, Requires improvement, 73% reading, 60% maths); Bude Primary Academy - Infants (1.7 miles, Requires improvement); Stratton Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 65% reading, 68% maths); and Bridgerule Church of England Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 57% reading, 43% maths).
Marhamchurch CofE Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Bude Primary Academy - JuniorsBude Primary Academy - InfantsStratton Primary SchoolBridgerule Church of England Primary School
The trust
Marhamchurch CofE Academy is one of 22 schools run by Learning Academy Partnership (south West), an academy trust.
Who goes there
10.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 11 pupils (8.6%) received SEN support and 1 (0.8%) 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.
Staffing
Marhamchurch CofE Academy had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is War Memorial (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14).
Suspensions and exclusions
Marhamchurch CofE 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; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its February 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement), Leadership & management (Requires Improvement), Early years (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
10.2%
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 65% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 50% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 100% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.8
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
31.0
KS2
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Marhamchurch CofE Academy
NEW RECEPTION 2027 OPEN MORNING
30 Sep 2026
SPORTS DAY
17 Jul 2026
THEATRE TRIP
17 Jul 2026
YEAR 6 LEAVERS DISCO
17 Jul 2026
FARM AND COUNTRY ROADSHOW
13 May 2026
WORLD BOOK DAY
1 Mar 2026
From Marhamchurch CofE Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Marhamchurch CofE Academy
Term dates
Marhamchurch CofE Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Cornwall's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Marhamchurch CofE Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Marhamchurch CofE Academy is in Cornwall; for families living there:
- Cornwall's school travel policy: Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2026/27
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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy
Will you get a place at Marhamchurch CofE Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Marhamchurch CofE Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Marhamchurch CofE Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Marhamchurch CofE Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cornwall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Marhamchurch CofE Academy for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Cornwall 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
103%
Over capacity
144 pupils
140 places
4 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bude
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bude
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,475
Applications
4,732
Got 1st preference
95.9%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
9.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
128
Total Pupils
72
Boys
56
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
14.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,914
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,857
Per pupil
£908k
Total funding
£24k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
7.4%
Persistent absence
121
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
Marhamchurch CofE Academy
Questions parents ask about Marhamchurch CofE Academy
What are SATs results like at Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
Of the pupils at Marhamchurch CofE Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 69% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is Marhamchurch CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?
Marhamchurch CofE Academy was rated Requires Improvement at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2012 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Marhamchurch CofE Academy is oversubscribed, Cornwall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
Marhamchurch CofE Academy was full in 2025, at 103% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
Classes at Marhamchurch CofE Academy average 27.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
Marhamchurch CofE Academy has around 128 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Marhamchurch CofE Academy in 2024/25. 7.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming Marhamchurch CofE 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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Marhamchurch CofE Academy?
Marhamchurch CofE Academy is at Helebridge Road, Marhamchurch, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 0HY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)