Schools by area › Devon › The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School
The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided
1 Beacon Place, Exmouth EX8 2SR · beacon-ce-primary.devon.sch.uk · 01395 264300
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 57%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Devon 59%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Reception, September 2026 entry · Devon Council
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 151
- 72% of 210 places
- Local authority
- Devon
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 19.9%
- First language not English
- 23.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Devon Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 9 families put the school first and 10 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 10 | 9 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 25 | 25 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 13% the higher standard. Across Devon it was 59%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼57% | 62% | ||
| ▲13% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School on 13 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Needs attention
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Urgent improvement
- Leadership and governance: Urgent improvement
- Inspected
- 13 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Needs attention |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Urgent improvement |
| Leadership and governance | Urgent improvement |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jul 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Jul 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Before September 2019
Jun 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Mar 2008Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
75% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (63 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 75%
- Positive
- 71%
- Replies
- 63
- 38% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 94% who raised concerns
based on 18 parents (29%) whose child was bullied
based on 22 parents (35%) with SEND