Swimbridge Church of England Primary School
Barnstaple Hill, Swimbridge, Barnstaple, EX32 0PJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Swimbridge Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Barnstaple for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 416 schools in Devon. It ranks 1st of 20 primary schools in Barnstaple. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 17 April 2024, report published 13 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 17 April 2024
The school's ethos is based on the strongly held values of wisdom, community, hope, love, dignity and respect. Pupils' wisdom is celebrated when they show curiosity and their resilience is rewarded when they show a positive attitude towards being 'stuck'. This starts in Reception. By the time pupils leave the school, they know how to be successful learners. Reading is central to school life. Pupils enjoy visits from authors linked to the local book festival. They are excited to see examples of their own writing published. Picture books are shared in assemblies to get pupils thinking about what life is like for people with different backgrounds and challenges. The school opens pupils' eyes to the world beyond north Devon. For example, the school sponsors a family in Uganda. By connecting with children growing up elsewhere, pupils learn about the difference education can make to people's lives. Increasingly, pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities by teaming up with their peers in other local primary schools. For example, pupils recently showcased their creative talents, performing alongside friends from other schools in a local 'proms' event. The school supports pupils who are facing challenges in their lives to develop their confidence and self-esteem through outdoor and adventure-based learning.
What the school should improve
- At times, the school does not identify pupils' special educational needs clearly. For a small number of pupils, this means that the school does not have a clear understanding of how best to support them, or of what is working well. The school should ensure that pupils' needs are clearly identified and evaluate the impact of the support provided more precisely.
- Some pupils do not make the most of the school's extra-curricular offer. This means that they do not get the benefit of some of the sporting and social opportunities available to them. The school should encourage and support pupils to enjoy a range of sporting and cultural activities together.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
13 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
79 pupils on roll, with places for 105
Schools near Swimbridge Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landkey Community Primary Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
| Orchard Vale Community School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 51% met the expected standard |
| Goodleigh Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| Bishops Tawton Primary School | 3 miles | Report card: Expected standard | 54% met the expected standard |
| Newport Community School Primary Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 52% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Dan Polak
- Phone
- 01271830437
- Address
- Barnstaple Hill, Swimbridge, Barnstaple, EX32 0PJ
- Local authority
- Devon
- URN
- 113455
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.