Wilcombe Primary School, Tiverton

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Wilcombe Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 3 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have high expectations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are relentless and successful in their work to secure high rates of attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Experienced and skilled staff in the early years ensure that children get off to a positive start to their education."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide pupils with a comprehensive range of enrichment opportunities to support their personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Too many pupils are not consistently well prepared for the next stage of their education."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Staff do not always have the pedagogical knowledge needed to ensure that teaching is as effective as it should be."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders' work to improve the quality of teaching, including the checks on pupils' learning, and to address the gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge in mathematics, reading and writing, has been too slow."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff have the pedagogical expertise needed to support pupils to learn consistently well"; "Leaders should ensure that assessment and feedback are used effectively so that teachers identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge quickly and so they plan learning that builds securely on what pupils already know and can do"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop the essential knowledge and skills they need, particularly in relation to handwriting, spelling, grammar and number facts"; "Leaders should ensure that all staff share consistently high expectations of what pupils can achieve so that pupils produce work of a high quality".

In 2025, 39% of Year 6 pupils at Wilcombe Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 52% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 68% in reading and 59% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 10 families put Wilcombe Primary School as their first choice and 21 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 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 Wilcombe Primary School are Tidcombe Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 83% reading, 91% maths); Two Moors Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 73% maths); Castle Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 63% reading, 52% maths); and Heathcoat Primary School (1.1 miles, Requires improvement, 57% reading, 39% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Wilcombe Primary School.

Wilcombe Primary School is one of 36 schools run by The Harbour Schools Partnership, an academy trust.

41 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Wilcombe Primary School (as of April 2026): 93% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).

45.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 44 pupils (28%) received SEN support and 26 (16.6%) 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.

Wilcombe Primary School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Wilcombe Primary School.

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lazenby Road (sw-bound), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 147 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson 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, Wilcombe Primary School issued 33 suspensions, 19.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.