Woolacombe School
Beach Road, Woolacombe, EX34 7BTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Woolacombe School is a primary school in Woolacombe for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 416 schools in Devon. It ranks 129th of 266 primary schools in Devon. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 29 November 2023, report published 18 January 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 29 November 2023
Pupils at Woolacombe School are rightly proud of their school. They are happy, safe and well cared for. They learn in a calm and nurturing environment. Pupils love their school. As a result, attendance is high. The school values, 'believe, belong, become' thread through the school. Pupils treat everyone with respect. The school is determined for pupils to succeed. Staff have high expectations for all pupils to reach their potential. Pupils live up to these and learn successfully. This starts in the early years where children thrive. They learn with confidence and show curiosity about the world. The school has put personal development at the heart of pupils' education. It is a high priority and a real strength. The school provides many enrichment opportunities that go beyond the academic. Pupils know their voice matters. They value the extensive range of leadership opportunities such as eco-warriors and peer mediators. They are involved in activities that they know will make a difference. For example, pupils are considering the effect of plastic pollution linked to sustainability.
What the school should improve
- Some subject developments are in their infancy. As a result, some pupils have gaps in their prior knowledge and so find it more difficult to build on what they know and remember. The trust needs to ensure that gaps in pupils' knowledge are identified and learning is adapted to enable all pupils build their knowledge well.
- Some pupils with SEND do not receive all the support they need to catch up. This is because the school has not identified with enough precision the help pupils need. This prevents some pupils from building their knowledge securely over time. The trust must ensure that precise support for pupils with SEND is identified so these pupils can learn the curriculum well.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
20 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
216 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near Woolacombe School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgeham Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 46% met the expected standard |
| West Down School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Ilfracombe Infant and Nursery School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement | Not published |
| Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 37% met the expected standard |
| Kingsacre Primary School | 4 miles | Report card: Strong standard | 88% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ALUMNIS MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Gail Holmes
- Phone
- 01271870551
- Address
- Beach Road, Woolacombe, EX34 7BT
- Local authority
- Devon
- URN
- 145765
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.