Woolacombe School, Woolacombe
Woolacombe School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Woolacombe, part of Alumnis Multi-Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 62nd-highest of the 269 schools in Devon with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 84% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Devon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Woolacombe School in detail
Woolacombe School in its own words
In its own words: "Offer opportunity across the curriculum giving experiences which build well informed children with strong characters. To enable each child to build a picture and understanding of belonging within their community, their country and the wider world… and so to foster true ambition and aspiration. To work hand in hand with parents, seeking and supporting partnership at all times."
The school runs after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Friday 2 July 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at Woolacombe School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% 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 (87% in reading, 80% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Woolacombe School
For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Woolacombe School as their first choice and 28 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Woolacombe School are Georgeham Church of England Primary School (2.4 miles, 69% reading, 77% maths); West Down School (3.4 miles); Ilfracombe Infant and Nursery School (4.1 miles, Good); and Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School (4.3 miles, Good, 63% reading, 60% maths).
Woolacombe School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Georgeham Church of England Primary SchoolWest Down SchoolIlfracombe Infant and Nursery SchoolIlfracombe Church of England Junior School
The trust
Woolacombe School is one of 6 schools run by Alumnis Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
14.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Staffing
Woolacombe School had 14 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Woolacombe School.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Parish Church (opposite), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Woolacombe School issued 13 suspensions, 6.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
14.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.2
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
26.5
KS2
9
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Woolacombe School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woolacombe School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woolacombe School is in Devon; for families living there:
- Devon's school travel policy: Free school transport
- How to apply: Apply for free school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Woolacombe School
Will you get a place at Woolacombe School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Woolacombe School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Woolacombe School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Woolacombe School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Woolacombe School for 2019 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Devon got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
84%
Available places
177 pupils
210 places
33 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Woolacombe
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Woolacombe
Across Devon council
Places available
9,014
Applications
6,494
Got 1st preference
96.5%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
16.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
216
Total Pupils
109
Boys
107
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
15.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,049
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,249
Per pupil
£1000k
Total funding
£32k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.9%
Overall absence
16.8%
Persistent absence
161
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Woolacombe School
What are SATs results like at Woolacombe School?
Of the pupils at Woolacombe School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Woolacombe School's Ofsted rating?
Woolacombe School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2009 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Woolacombe School?
No fixed boundary. When Woolacombe School is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Woolacombe School?
Woolacombe School was not full in 2025: it ran at 84% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Woolacombe School?
Classes at Woolacombe School average 23.2 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Woolacombe School?
Woolacombe School has around 216 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Woolacombe School?
6.9% of sessions were missed at Woolacombe School in 2024/25. 16.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Woolacombe School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Woolacombe School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Woolacombe School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Woolacombe School?
Woolacombe School is at Beach Road, Woolacombe, Devon, EX34 7BT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)