School Chooser

Torre Church of England Academy

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademyChurch of England310 pupilsNurseryTorquayTorbay
School Chooser Score
90
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 81 to 95
Out of 100. Better than 96% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedStrong teachingOfsted report card, January 2026
Reached the expected level at 1184%England 63%
Attendance96.1%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families26%About the same as most schools in England
Parents would recommend98%52 Parent View responses
Places31 spare310 pupils, 341 places

Torre Church of England Academy is a converter academy in Torquay for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 310 pupils and room for 341. About 26 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 90 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 96% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in January 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Barton Road, Torre C of E Academy, Barton Road, Torquay, TQ1 4DN01803 324007torrecofeacademy.orgMrs Laura Kendell headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 20 January 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
Strong
Achievement
Strong
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
Strong
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Strong
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
Strong
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
Strong
Early years
Strong
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
8 July 2021UngradedSchool remains Good

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

43 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1184%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level16%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score108.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score106.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 66%66%20172018: 60%60%20182019: 71%71%20192023: 76%76%20232024: 78%78%20242025: 84%84%2025
Since 2017: +18%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017TorbayEngland
Pupils tested434645453032
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths84%78%76%71%60%66%62%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths16%17%7%13%20%9%8%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score108.0107.0107.0106.0106.0107.0105.4105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score106.0105.0105.0107.0103.0104.0104.2104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score107.0105.0107.0108.0105.0109.0104.3105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard91%85%80%80%77%81%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard86%80%84%91%63%78%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)91%83%76%80%77%66%
Reading progressReading progress score+1.7+1.0+0.0+0.6
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.5+1.3-1.7-2.0
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged60%71%58%62%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged91%83%82%75%

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.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 4 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
60%91%
Gap 31 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
89%75%
Gap 14 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
86%84%
Gap 2 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%16%
Gap 16 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

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.

A few spare places286 pupils for 315 places, 2024/25
91% full

About 29 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 7% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

How places were given out for September 2025. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child chosen by how close to the school they lived, but the council didn't publish how far away that was. 46 families put it down as their first choice and 45 of them got in (98%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2025 Primary4546634598%LA

What parents say

Would recommend the school98%England 87%
My child is happy here96%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe100%
Positive overall91%
My child is happy at this school
96%England 89%
My child feels safe at this school
100%England 90%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
92%England 83%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
15% yesEngland 18%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
75%England 50%
My child gets the right support to learn well
88%England 85%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
27% yesEngland 26%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
93%England 71%
The school communicates well with me
83%England 80%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
75%England 69%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
85%England 82%
I would recommend this school
98%England 87%
Overall view of the school is positive
91%England 82%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 52 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.

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.

Pupils on roll310Census January 2026
Places34191% full
Pupils from low-income families26%26% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English14%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support11%34 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%11 pupils with a plan
Average class size25.812 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)24%£102,300 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls152 / 158
White British pupils79%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 22.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 28.7 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (13), language and communications needs (13), emotional and mental health (12), Moderate learning difficulty (2), Specific learning difficulty (2), Hearing impairment (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll310321313333339344
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals26%26%28%28%26%22%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language14%14%14%13%12%12%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support11%11%13%11%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans4%3%3%3%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance96.1%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school7.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils1.62024/25, 1 permanent exclusion
Missed without permission1.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.0%5.2%5.8%6.8%2.5%3.6%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence2.6%3.9%4.7%6.2%2.1%3.1%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.4%1.3%1.1%0.7%0.4%0.6%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence7.0%13.1%15.4%19.4%6.3%7.3%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate1.60.31.50.30.6
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions10000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers12.8full-time equivalent, 14 people
Pupils per teacher23.4Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants11.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,601
Teachers who left in the year0%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher2.72024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£5,844England £7,128. Total £1.9m
Income per pupil£6,782England £7,587. Total £2.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£2,710England £3,405
Money in reserve9%A healthy amount put by: £189k, £590 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£301kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£5,844spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m34912 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate128 per 1,000 people41% higher than the England average
Typical house price£250,000Torbay
Nearest bus stop210 mTorquay Academy, 10 stops within 500 m

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.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy550 m145Good 202239Compare
Upton St James CofE Primary SchoolAcademy790 m94No overall grade 20243Compare
Cockington Primary SchoolAcademy0.7 miles380No overall grade 202521Compare
Sherwell Valley Primary SchoolCouncil0.7 miles694Good 202460Compare
Homelands Primary SchoolCouncil0.8 miles208Report card 202618Compare
Ellacombe Church of England AcademyAcademy0.8 miles337Good 202472Compare
St Margaret's AcademyAcademy0.8 miles382Good 202327Compare
Shiphay Learning AcademyAcademy0.9 miles373No overall grade 202450Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Torre Church of England Academy with the 46 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 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats96%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the very top of its group. Its score of 90 is 52 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 7 · middle 38 · highest 95100

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 90 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 90% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 81 to 95. 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 atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%above
+0.12
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 43 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%above
+0.20
Ofsted report card, 0.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.03
DfE progress measure; 43 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.07
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.08
2024/25; 259 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well above
+0.14
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 43 pupils
What parents say5%above
+0.04
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 52 responses

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 Torre Church of England Academy a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Torre Church of England Academy scores 90 out of 100. That is well 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 81 to 95, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Torre Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 20 January 2026 it rated teaching as strong, achievement as strong, behaviour and attendance as strong, leadership as strong.

How good are Torre Church of England Academy's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 84% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 16% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Torre Church of England Academy have?

310 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 341 places, so it is 91% full.

Is Torre Church of England Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 29 places were empty in 2024/25 (9% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Torre Church of England Academy?

Pupils were in school 96.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 7% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about Torre Church of England Academy?

98% of the 52 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 96% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at Torre Church of England Academy?

The average class had 25.8 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
Barton Road, Torre C of E Academy, Barton Road, Torquay, TQ1 4DN
Telephone
01803 324007
Website
www.torrecofeacademy.org
Headteacher
Mrs Laura Kendell
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Exeter
Multi-academy trust
The Academies for Character and Excellence (20 schools)
Local authority
Torbay
Ward
Tormohun
Constituency
Torbay
Setting
Urban: Further from a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2013 (academy converter)
URN
140092 · LAESTAB 8803618 · UKPRN 10043007
Formerly
Torre Church of England Primary School

Where these figures come from