St David's CofE Primary School, Exeter
St David's CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Exeter, part of The Harbour Schools Partnership. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 37th-highest of the 48 schools in Exeter with published results, and 10,359th of 14,452 across England. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- 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
St David's CofE Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at St David's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 60% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 69% in reading and 56% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St David's CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 11 families put St David's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 19 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 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 St David's CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St David's CofE Primary School are Montgomery Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 76% reading, 69% maths); St Gabriel's CofE Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 79% reading, 83% maths); St Thomas Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 57% maths); and St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery (0.7 miles, 88% reading, 96% maths).
St David's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Montgomery Primary SchoolSt Gabriel's CofE Primary SchoolSt Thomas Primary SchoolSt Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery
The trust
St David's CofE Primary School is one of 36 schools run by The Harbour Schools Partnership, an academy trust.
What parents say
24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St David's CofE Primary School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 100% 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 (75%).
Who goes there
29.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%), Mixed (10%) and Black (6%).
In 2026, 22 pupils (24.2%) received SEN support and 5 (5.5%) 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 Exeter Central Rail Station, about 340 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church (se-bound), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 689 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, St David's CofE Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 3.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St David's CofE Primary School are Atkinson Secure Children's Home (1.1 miles), West Exe School (1.2 miles) and Thomas Hall School (1.3 miles).
Atkinson Secure Children's HomeWest Exe SchoolThomas Hall School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2012, 14 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 November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St David's is a close-knit community school where children feel safe and happy. Parents particularly appreciate the friendly atmosphere and the school's swift response to any bullying or friendship issues. The school has successfully improved how it teaches reading and mathematics, and provides excellent support for pupils with additional needs.
Key Strengths
- Strong teaching of early reading with secure phonics instruction and pupils developing wider reading skills
- Ambitious curriculum for writing with high expectations for technical skills
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs who are well included in lessons
- Pupils' behaviour is mostly very positive and personal development is well supported through the school's values
- Strong partnership working with the trust to share expertise and improve provision
Areas for Improvement
- Early years curriculum does not sufficiently focus on prime areas of learning, particularly language and communication
- Some creative writing activities are too difficult for pupils who have not yet developed the speaking and listening skills they need
- Not all children in Reception are well prepared for the next stage of their education
- Young pupils need more practice and support to become confident speakers and attentive listeners
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
St David's is a friendly school with a warm welcome where staff work hard to create a safe and inspiring environment. The school has strengthened its curriculum for Years 1 to 6, leading to improved achievement, though more work is needed in the early years.
At a Glance
27.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
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 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 69% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 56% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 69% to 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.8
Avg class size
21.5
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St David's CofE Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St David's CofE Primary School.
- Cygnet Theatre - Theatretrain Summer School820m away · Not yet graded
- Premier Wraparound @ St Gabriel's900m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St David's CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St David's CofE Primary 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
- 58
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 58 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 14 serious and 43 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 St David's CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at St David's CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St David's CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St David's CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St David's CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St David's CofE Primary 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
93 pupils
105 places
12 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Exeter
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Exeter
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
22
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
29.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
91
Total Pupils
45
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
18.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,782
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,245
Per pupil
£703k
Total funding
£29k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
16.1%
Persistent absence
87
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
St David's CofE Primary School
Questions parents ask about St David's CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at St David's CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at St David's CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 60% did so in maths.
What is St David's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St David's CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St David's CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St David's CofE Primary 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 St David's CofE Primary School?
St David's CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at St David's CofE Primary School?
Classes at St David's CofE Primary School average 22.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St David's CofE Primary School?
St David's CofE Primary School has around 91 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St David's CofE Primary School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at St David's CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 16.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St David's CofE Primary School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming St David's CofE Primary 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.
Does St David's CofE Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St David's CofE Primary School: Cygnet Theatre - Theatretrain Summer School (820m away, registered, not yet graded) and Premier Wraparound @ St Gabriel's (900m away, 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 St David's CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 58 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 14 serious and 43 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 St David's CofE Primary School?
St David's CofE Primary School is at Dinham Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4EE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)