The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School, Exmouth

Ofsted's report card from its 13 January 2026 inspection grades The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard, 3 needs attention and 2 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils generally behave well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school provides a wide range of opportunities to support pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "As they progress through the school, many pupils are not as ready for their next stage of education as they should be."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have established a broad and balanced curriculum in key stages 1 and 2."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "There is variability in how well pupils receive the personalised support they need."

Early years - Urgent improvement. "Children benefit from warm, caring relationships with adults."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "Leaders have faced significant challenges, including staff absence, leader ill health and a changing pupil profile."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders must identify, with precision, the key weaknesses that continue to limit the school's effectiveness, particularly in the early years. Leaders and governors should then regularly check the impact of their actions to ensure that improvement work leads to rapid and sustainable change"; "Leaders must improve the quality of the early years to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of children across the age range, taking into consideration their different starting points. Leaders must check that this is implemented effectively so that children are able to secure knowledge across all areas of learning to be well prepared for their next stage"; "Leaders must strengthen how they identify the most significant needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They must ensure pupils with SEND receive precise, well-matched support, including in the early years. Leaders should then check, with rigour, that this support enables them to learn the curriculum successfully so that they achieve well"; "Leaders must develop staff's expertise and subject knowledge so they accurately check how well pupils are learning the curriculum and adapt future teaching to build on what pupils know and can do"; "Leaders should make sure pupils are given the support they need to secure accuracy and fluency in reading and writing, checking with precision that support leads to better achievement so that pupils are prepared for their next stage".

In its own words: "Our school (children aged 3 / Nursery to 11 / Year 6) is in the heart of Exmouth town centre, a stones-throw away from the beach, Manor Gardens and Holy Trinity Church - and we take pride in making the most of the opportunities all these places offer! Our vision is for ‘Living life in all its fullness' (John 10:10)."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Being situated close to Exmouth Beach and all the amenities of the town centre, with a long tradition of Beach School, Adventure School and excellence in music and dance - ‘living life in all its fullness’ is something The Beacon has a long history of!"

Coming up: an open day on Saturday 27 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% 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 (67% in reading, 61% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 9 families put The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School as their first choice and 12 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School are Exeter Road Community Primary School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 54% reading, 23% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Exmouth (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 45% maths); Withycombe Raleigh Church of England Primary School (1 mile, Good, 75% reading, 82% maths); and Marpool Primary School (1.1 miles, 54% reading, 44% maths).

The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

63 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School (as of April 2026): 75% would recommend the school, 73% say their child is happy there and 27% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (75%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (27%).

In 2026, 51 pupils (33.8%) received SEN support and 1 (0.7%) 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.

The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Exmouth Rail Station, about 450 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Holy Trinity Church (nw-bound), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 100 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 3.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.