Parracombe Church of England Primary School
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Parracombe Church of England Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Barnstaple for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 37 pupils and room for 56. About 32 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 70 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 96% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.
Church Lane, Parracombe, Barnstaple, EX31 4QJ01598 763338westexmoorfederation.org.ukMrs Jayne Peacock executive headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
A shorter visit on 22 March 2023 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
8 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 75% | 43% | 75% | 50% | 83% | – | 60% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | – | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 105.0 | 106.0 | 108.0 | 101.0 | 108.0 | – | 105.8 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 106.0 | 105.0 | 104.0 | 102.0 | 102.0 | – | 104.0 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 102.0 | 103.0 | 105.0 | 102.0 | 105.0 | – | 104.1 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 88% | 57% | 100% | 67% | 83% | – | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 100% | 71% | 88% | 67% | 83% | – | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 75% | 71% | 88% | 50% | 83% | – | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +3.5 | -0.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -0.1 | +0.1 | – | – | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
14 places were empty (26% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.
In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (1 offers for 8 places).
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 9.5 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 9.0 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (2), language and communications needs (2), Moderate learning difficulty (1), Other difficulty or disability (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 37 | 39 | 40 | 39 | 41 | 38 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 32% | 33% | 33% | 21% | 22% | 26% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 13% | 13% | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 3.2% | 3.5% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 2.8% | 2.9% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 0.9% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 5.7% | 2.9% | 18.4% | 2.6% | 5.6% | 11.4% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentisbury Primary School | Council | 3.3 miles | 51 | Good 2023 | 77 | Compare |
| Lynton Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 4.1 miles | 61 | Good 2023 | 49 | Compare |
| Bratton Fleming Community Primary School | Academy | 4.7 miles | 70 | Good 2022 | 80 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Parracombe Church of England Primary School with the 44 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 44 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
No school with a similar mix of pupils within 25 km scores clearly higher.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 70 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 70% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 39 to 89. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 0% | no data | – | |
| Ofsted inspection | 19% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old) | in line | +0.02 | Ofsted grade, 3.5 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 0% | no data | – | |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | above | +0.12 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.10 | 2024/25; 35 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 0% | no data | – | |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Parracombe Church of England Primary School a good school?
Yes, going by the figures. Parracombe Church of England Primary School scores 70 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 96% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 39 to 89, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Parracombe Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Parracombe Church of England Primary School good at its last full inspection on 22 March 2023.
How good are Parracombe Church of England Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 75% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Parracombe Church of England Primary School have?
37 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 56 places, so it is 66% full.
Is Parracombe Church of England Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 14 places were empty in 2024/25 (26% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Parracombe Church of England Primary School?
Pupils were in school 96.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 6% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Parracombe Church of England Primary School?
The average class had 9.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Church Lane, Parracombe, Barnstaple, EX31 4QJ
- Telephone
- 01598 763338
- Website
- www.westexmoorfederation.org.uk
- Executive Headteacher
- Mrs Jayne Peacock
- Type of school
- Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Exeter
- Local authority
- Devon
- Ward
- Lynton & Lynmouth
- Constituency
- North Devon
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- URN
- 113382 · LAESTAB 8783066 · UKPRN 10073842
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Admissions outcomes: Devon council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.