The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy, Ilfracombe
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has transformed pupil achievement and attendance through strong leadership and a well-structured curriculum. Teachers are experts in their subjects and provide excellent support for reading and mathematics, with disadvantaged pupils achieving particularly well. The school creates a friendly, welcoming environment where most pupils enjoy school and feel supported to do their best.
Key Strengths
- Significant improvement in pupil achievement and GCSE results, particularly in English and mathematics
- Structured reading programme that helps struggling readers develop fluency and confidence
- Strong attendance rates with leaders successfully removing barriers to school attendance
- Broad and ambitious curriculum that builds on prior learning
- Excellent support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND to access wider school activities
Areas for Improvement
- Too many pupils, including those with SEND, are repeatedly removed from lessons for behaviour, causing them to miss learning
- Some pupils with SEND do not consistently receive the support they need to succeed
- Lack of pupil and parent confidence in how bullying incidents and inappropriate language are handled
- A minority of pupils express derogatory or prejudiced views that make some peers feel uncomfortable
- Inconsistent support for pupils with SEND in the classroom despite staff training
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, events, trips to leading universities
The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy has made significant improvements in pupil achievement, attendance, and behaviour under current leadership. The school provides a broad curriculum with strong support for reading and mathematics, though some pupils with SEND need more consistent support.
At a Glance
27.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.5
Avg class size
39
Total classes
9 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
85%
Available places
1,016 pupils
1,200 capacity
184 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Ilfracombe
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ilfracombe
Admissions Demand - Devon
Places available
8,027
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Secondary admissions across Devon (2025/26)
Inspection History(10)
House Prices
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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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.8056%
Overall absence
25.48387%
Persistent absence
930
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy
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