Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #166 in Devon public Top 65% UK

Buckfastleigh Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Laurie Archer

corporate_fareWESTCOUNTRY SCHOOLS TRUST

location_onBuckfastleigh, TQ11 0DD

language Visit Website phone 1364643304

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

145

school

Expected Standard

58%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Buckfastleigh Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Buckfastleigh, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 65% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Buckfastleigh Primary School is an academy converter in Buckfastleigh, Devon, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of WESTCOUNTRY SCHOOLS TRUST. The school has approximately 121 pupils on roll, of whom 35% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 11% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #166 of 266 primaries in Devon and #10,831 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.1 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

58%

LA 57%

Reading74% LA 75%

Writing68% LA 67%

Maths68% LA 71%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

64%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading84% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing92% LA 66% · Eng 72%

Maths84% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

30%

LA 55%England 60%

Reading47% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing60% LA 66% · Eng 71%

Maths43% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-5.3

Read

LA 0.3

-7.6 to -3.0

-2.1

Write

LA -0.7

-4.3 to 0.1

-5.6

Maths

LA -0.9

-7.8 to -3.5

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading57% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing76% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths62% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.5

Read

LA 0.3

-5.8 to -1.3

-1.2

Write

LA -1.0

-3.3 to 0.9

-3.6

Maths

LA -1.0

-5.6 to -1.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

21%

LA 63%

Reading59% LA 77%

Writing66% LA 76%

Maths24% LA 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.3

Read

LA 0.2

-4.5 to -0.1

-1.6

Write

LA -0.8

-3.7 to 0.5

-5.4

Maths

LA -0.7

-7.4 to -3.4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

06 February 2024

Inspection Report

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14 September 2021

Inspection Report

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05 December 2017

Inspection Report

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12 March 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-02-06

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2021-09-14

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-12-05

S5 Inspection Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-03-12

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.3%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.7%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 121 pupils. During this period, there were 4 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.3%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	121	4	3.3%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	121	6	5.0%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	127	4	3.1%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	128	3	2.3%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	128	5	3.9%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	146	1	0.7%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	145	1	0.7%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	148	2	1.4%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	152	2	1.3%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	151	2	1.3%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	155	1	0.6%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	155	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	152	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	156	1	0.6%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	179	0	0.0%	0.0%	1
2019/20 (Spring term)	179	5	2.8%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	180	7	3.9%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	192	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	193	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	193	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	197	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	202	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	201	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	210	5	2.4%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	212	3	1.4%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	216	2	0.9%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 25 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 12 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

86.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree35%

agree46%

disagree15%

strongly disagree4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree69%

agree25%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree40%

agree38%

disagree10%

not applicable13%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes29%

no71%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree50%

agree36%

disagree14%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree33%

agree58%

disagree4%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree38%

disagree6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree52%

agree48%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree38%

disagree2%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree48%

disagree6%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree42%

agree46%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes85%

no15%

Top Primary Schools in Devon

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

The Grove School

Good

location_on Totnes, TQ9 5ED

emoji_events #1 in LA

Canada Hill Community Primary School

Good

location_on Newton Abbot, TQ12 6YS

emoji_events #2 in LA

Stowford School

Good

location_on Ivybridge, PL21 0BG

emoji_events #3 in LA

Bickleigh Down Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Plymouth, PL6 7JW

emoji_events #4 in LA

Witheridge Church of England Primary Academy

Good

location_on Tiverton, EX16 8AH

emoji_events #5 in LA

Ashleigh CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Barnstaple, EX32 8LJ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Devon arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Devon

The Grove School

Canada Hill Community Primary School

Stowford School

Bickleigh Down Church of England Primary School

Witheridge Church of England Primary Academy

Ashleigh CofE Primary School