Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy, Barnstaple
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Barnstaple, part of Team Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 10th-highest of the 20 schools in Barnstaple with published results, and 8,749th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Capacity
- 98% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy in detail
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Please click on the links to the right to find out more about us."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include tennis, gymnastics, karate, choir, ukulele and book club.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 78% in reading and 78% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy
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.
In 2026, families in Devon lodged 46 appeals against primary school offers; 22 reached a hearing and 5 succeeded (22.7% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy are Pilton Infants' Academy (under 0.1 miles); Yeo Valley Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 50% reading, 61% maths); Ashleigh CofE Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 79% reading, 82% maths); and Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple (0.8 miles, Good, 69% reading, 59% maths).
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Pilton Infants' AcademyYeo Valley Primary SchoolAshleigh CofE Primary SchoolOur Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple
The trust
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy is one of 8 schools run by Team Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Asian (7%).
In 2026, 32 pupils (12.3%) received SEN support and 6 (2.3%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Barnstaple Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pathfield School (n-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 225 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, Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy issued 0 suspensions, 0 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy are Pilton Community College (0.2 miles) and The Park Community School (1.4 miles).
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
23.8%
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 remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 78% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
32.6
Avg class size
32.6
KS2
8
Total classes
8 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy
Exploring Autumn
2 Oct 2026
Team Cross-Country Event
2 Oct 2026
Newton Abbott Races
23 Sep 2026
A Special Visit from Pastor Lew and Monica
18 Sep 2026
Playground Upgrade
11 Sep 2026
Outdoor Learning
17 Jul 2026
From Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy.
- Primary Sports and Education Breakfast and After School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy 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
- 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: 1 on foot.
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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
260 pupils
264 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Barnstaple
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Barnstaple
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
32
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
14.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
261
Total Pupils
134
Boys
127
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
18.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,046
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,190
Per pupil
£1440k
Total funding
£76k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
11.6%
Persistent absence
267
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
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy
Questions parents ask about Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy
What are SATs results like at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
Of the pupils at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 71% did so in maths.
What is Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023.
What is the catchment area for Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
Classes at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy average 32.6 pupils (2025/26). 8 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy has around 261 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy in 2024/25. 11.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Primary Sports and Education Breakfast and After School Club (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Pilton Bluecoat 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: 1 on foot. 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 Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy?
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy is at Abbey Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1JU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)