Ernesettle Community School

About Ernesettle Community School

Ernesettle Community School sits within the Plymouth local authority, where it ranks 6th out of 65 primary schools on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it comfortably in the top 10% of its local peers. The three schools immediately above it in the local rankings are Tor Bridge Primary School, Elburton Primary School, and Hooe Primary Academy. Ernesettle is one of only nine primary schools in Plymouth to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a distinction it earned in its most recent graded inspection in 2019 and has maintained through a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2025, where inspectors confirmed that standards are being maintained. The school is led by headteacher Olivia Bartlett and serves 554 pupils, which is 29 above its official capacity of 525, giving a sense of its popularity among local families.

Academically, Ernesettle performs well above the Plymouth average. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 assessments, 81% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 63%. The school also achieves strong results at the higher standard, with 10% of pupils reaching that level across all three subjects. Reading scores are particularly notable: the average scaled score is 108, and 45% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading. Maths scores are also above average at 106, with 22% reaching the higher threshold. Ofsted’s inspection report awarded top marks across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all received Outstanding grades. The school’s national ranking places it in the top 10% of all primary schools in England on the key stage 2 expected standard metric.

The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 101 applications for 69 places, with 66 of those coming from first-preference families. Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, art studios, sensory room, and an outdoor playground, and the school offers clubs ranging from coding and chess to gardening and film club. Sports provision includes gymnastics, netball, rounders, and dance. Ernesettle has a nursery provision for children from age 2 and provides SEND support across several areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent View responses from 145 parents in the 2024/25 period show very high satisfaction: 91% would recommend the school, 93% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, and 93% felt the same about safety. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes within a supportive, well-regarded local primary.

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