Southmead School, Braunton
Southmead School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Braunton, part of Braunton Learning Co-operative. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 66th-highest of the 269 schools in Devon with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- 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 Devon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Southmead School in detail
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Southmead 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 (80% in reading, 92% in maths).
Getting a place at Southmead School
For September 2026 entry, 40 families put Southmead School as their first choice and 55 named it as one of their preferences, for 40 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Southmead School are Caen Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 81% maths); Kingsacre Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 88% reading, 92% maths); Fremington Primary School (2.6 miles, 62% reading, 52% maths); and Georgeham Church of England Primary School (3 miles, 69% reading, 77% maths).
Southmead School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Caen Community Primary SchoolKingsacre Primary SchoolFremington Primary SchoolGeorgeham Church of England Primary School
The trust
Southmead School is one of 3 schools run by Braunton Learning Co-operative, an academy trust.
Who goes there
9.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and other ethnic groups (8%).
In 2026, 44 pupils (12.9%) received SEN support and 9 (2.6%) 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
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Southmead School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Braunton Academy (adjacent), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 37 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. 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, Southmead School issued 5 suspensions, 1.4 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from March 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 March 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
19.1%
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 improved from 80% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 92% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 72% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.2
Avg class size
24.6
Infant (KS1)
27.3
KS2
13
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Southmead School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Southmead School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Southmead 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
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Southmead School
Will you get a place at Southmead School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Southmead School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Southmead School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Southmead School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Southmead 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
89%
Available places
374 pupils
420 places
46 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Braunton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Braunton
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(13)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
44
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
15.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
341
Total Pupils
164
Boys
177
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
16.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,213
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,049
Per pupil
£2063k
Total funding
£95k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
8.3%
Persistent absence
338
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
Southmead School
Questions parents ask about Southmead School
What are SATs results like at Southmead School?
Of the pupils at Southmead School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Southmead School's Ofsted rating?
Southmead School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Southmead School?
No fixed boundary. When Southmead 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 Southmead School?
Southmead School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Southmead School?
Classes at Southmead School average 26.2 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 Southmead School?
Southmead School has around 341 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Southmead School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at Southmead School in 2024/25. 8.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Southmead School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Southmead 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 Southmead School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Southmead School?
Southmead School is at Wrafton Road, Braunton, Devon, EX33 2BU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)