St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery, Exeter

Ofsted's report card from its 13 January 2026 inspection grades St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery on 7 areas: 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "The proportion of pupils who arrive or leave St Sidwell's part way through their primary education is much higher than typically found."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders' welcoming and inclusive culture means that pupils want to come to school regularly, and do so."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The curriculum is ambitious across all subjects."

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders invest time in building trusting relationships with parents and carers."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "St Sidwell's is a highly inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have expertly steered and embedded improvements across the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils and staff feel inspired by the school's personal development programme."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should continue their strategy of supporting middle leaders so they can play a greater part in securing further improvements across the school".

From the headteacher's welcome: "St. Sidwell's CE Primary School and Nursery is a one-form entry Church of England Primary school, in the heart of Exeter. We welcome children from age 3 to age 11. We are a happy, thriving and successful school in the heart of Exeter City that we are all proud to belong to."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, basketball, guitar, chess, Lego and knitting.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026 and an open day on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery reached the expected standard in reading and 96% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 79% in reading and 79% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery as their first choice and 43 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery are Newtown Primary School (0.3 miles, 88% reading, 88% maths); Ladysmith Junior School (0.6 miles); St David's CofE Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 60% maths); and Ladysmith Infant & Nursery School (0.7 miles).

St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.

St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery is one of 21 schools run by St Christopher's C of E (primary) Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

46 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery (as of April 2026): 89% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 56% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (56%).

13.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 45.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (36%), Asian (22%) and other ethnic groups (10%).

In 2026, 27 pupils (13.4%) received SEN support and 5 (2.5%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is St James Park (Devon) Rail Station, about 260 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

34 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Sidwell's School (se-bound), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 626 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.

In 2024/25, St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery issued 22 suspensions, 10 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery are Atkinson Secure Children's Home (1 mile), Thomas Hall School (1.3 miles), St James School (1.4 miles) and Isca Academy (1.6 miles).