Berrynarbor Church of England Primary School

About Berrynarbor Church of England Primary School

Berrynarbor Church of England Primary School sits within Devon’s large primary landscape, where only five of 309 schools hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. The school itself was judged Good in its most recent graded inspection in January 2024, a step down from the Outstanding it achieved in 2011. Among its local Church of England peers, the top performers in the local authority are Stockland Church of England Primary Academy and Upottery Primary School, both with perfect ranking scores, followed closely by Berry Pomeroy Parochial CofE Primary School. Berrynarbor is a small, mixed primary in North Devon, catering for children aged 4 to 11, with a capacity of 84. Headteacher Susan Carey leads a school with a Church of England religious character, and the site includes a chapel, reflecting its faith foundation. The school offers a Forest School programme, a sensory room, and a range of facilities including a library, sports hall, and music rooms, which give a sense of the breadth of provision despite its modest size.

Academically, Berrynarbor’s most recent Ofsted report graded all key areas as Good, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. The previous inspection had rated leadership and management and overall effectiveness as Outstanding, but the 2024 inspection saw these drop to Good. The school does not have published Key Stage 2 SATs results in the data, so direct comparison with the Devon local authority average of 57 per cent for expected standard in reading, writing, and maths is not possible here. However, the Ofsted breakdown suggests a consistent standard across the board, with no area falling below Good. The school has no sixth form, as it is a primary, and does not offer nursery provision, so its focus is squarely on the primary years. The absence of exam data means parents should look to the inspection report for a fuller picture of academic quality, particularly the graded judgements on curriculum and pupil progress.

For families considering Berrynarbor, the school offers a distinctly rural, faith-based setting with a strong emphasis on outdoor learning through its Forest School and access to playing fields. The sensory room suggests provision for pupils with additional needs, though specific SEND data is not detailed here. The school is oversubscribed? The data does not give admissions numbers or a waiting list, so parents should check directly with the local authority. Clubs include drama, art, and choir, while sports offered are dance, gymnastics, netball, and athletics. The school’s small size likely means a close-knit community, and the chapel on site reinforces its Church of England character. This is a school that will suit families who value a rural, faith-aligned primary with good facilities for its size, and who are comfortable with a Good rather than Outstanding Ofsted rating. Given the limited local Outstanding options, Berrynarbor represents a solid, well-regarded choice within Devon’s primary sector.

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