St Thomas of Canterbury CofE Primary School, Crediton

Requires Improvement
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Anglican/Church of England
Ages 211

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Jessica Wright
Pupils:51 / 105 capacity
LA:Devon
Phone:0136383292
Address:Eastington Road, Lapford, Crediton, EX17 6QE
Trust:CHULMLEIGH ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 January 2012

Ofsted Rating

Requires Improvement

Overall

URN:137780
UKPRN:10036160
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Central Devon
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This small school creates a welcoming, inclusive community where every pupil is known and valued. Teachers provide highly effective pastoral care and quickly identify any barriers to learning, ensuring all pupils including those with SEND and disadvantaged backgrounds receive the personalised support they need to make progress. The school offers a rich, broad curriculum with particular strengths in reading and music, supported by dedicated staff who genuinely care about each child's wellbeing and development.

Key Strengths

  • Pupils behave remarkably well with a calm, focused atmosphere highly conducive to learning
  • Strong attendance figures above national expectations, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Broad and engaging curriculum with a love of reading that permeates the school
  • Exceptional inclusion and pastoral care for all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Music is a particular strength with many pupils learning instruments

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils do not consistently apply neat handwriting in their independent written work
  • Handwriting and transcription skills could be further strengthened across the school
  • Published data in national tests does not reflect the strengths of the educational offer

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Music lessons (bass, guitar, drums), rock band, tennis club, skipping club, choir, eco club, trips to North Devon, residential visits to Bristol and Dartmoor

St Thomas of Canterbury CofE Primary School is a small, close-knit school where pupils feel happy and safe and genuinely love coming to learn. The school has improved significantly since the previous inspection across leadership, behaviour, teaching quality and community engagement.

At a Glance

33.3%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+14ppMaths+31ppWriting+42pp

Reading has improved from 75% to 89%. Maths has improved from 25% to 56%. Writing has improved from 25% to 67%.

Class Sizes

16.3

Avg class size

3

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Lapford Rail Station (Entrance)
878m · 14 min walk

Bus Stops

Shelter (opp)
190m · 3 min walk
Old Post Office (opp)
437m · 7 min walk
Highfield Estate (S-bound)
647m · 11 min walk
Industrial Estate (NE-bound)
912m · 15 min walk
Lapford Cross (SE-bound)
977m · 16 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

49%

Available places

51 pupils

105 capacity

54 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Crediton

Low pressure
New homes approved:560
Projected new pupils:140

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Crediton

Admissions Demand - Devon

Low demand0.73x oversubscription

Places available

9,263

Applications

6,758

Got 1st preference

96.2%

Got preferred school

98.9%

Primary admissions across Devon (2025/26)

Inspection History(106)

Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.00495%

Overall absence

5.12821%

Persistent absence

39

Enrolments

Authorised2.5923%
Unauthorised1.41266%
Persistent (10%+)5.12821%
Severe (50%+)5.12821%

Absence trend

3.36779%
18/19
3.68929%
20/21
6.76658%
21/22
5.76438%
22/23
4.81283%
23/24
4.00495%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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