Exeter Road Community Primary School

About Exeter Road Community Primary School

Exeter Road Community Primary School is a state-funded mixed primary in Devon, serving children from age 2 to 11 in the East Devon area. With 191 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, it is a relatively small school that is currently oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 23 applications for 19 places, all of which went to first-preference families. In the local authority rankings, the school sits at 190th out of 309 same-type schools, placing it in the bottom half of Devon primaries. For context, the top-performing peers in the area include Stockland Church of England Primary Academy, Upottery Primary School, and Berry Pomeroy Parochial CofE Primary School, all of which achieved perfect or near-perfect ranking scores. Exeter Road’s most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in February 2025, resulted in an overall rating of Requires Improvement, though the school was not formally judged on overall effectiveness that time. Compared with its previous inspection in October 2022, which also rated it Requires Improvement, the school has seen some progress: early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes all improved from Requires Improvement to Good.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 academic year show mixed outcomes. Just 44% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is notably below the Devon local authority average of 57%. In reading, 70% reached the expected standard and 19% achieved a higher score, while in writing 52% met expectations and 11% reached the higher threshold. Maths was the weakest area: 56% of pupils achieved the expected standard, and only 7% reached the higher standard. The average reading score was 104 and the average maths score was 100. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 13% of all primary schools on the combined measure, and in the South West region it sits at the 82nd percentile. No progress scores are available for any of the three core subjects, so it is not possible to assess how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The school does not have a sixth form.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, playing fields, a sensory room, a sports hall, and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, swimming, netball, dance, cricket and rounders, while clubs include coding, chess, choir, art club and drama. SEND support is a significant feature: the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication issues, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. Parent View responses from 26 respondents between September 2024 and September 2025 show that 65% would recommend the school. However, responses were mixed on several fronts: 46% agreed their child is happy, but 23% disagreed; 38% strongly agreed their child feels safe, but 19% disagreed; and on whether concerns are dealt with properly, 23% strongly disagreed. The school has a nursery provision, making it a possible option for families seeking an all-through primary from age 2, though the Requires Improvement rating and below-average outcomes mean it may suit families who prioritise SEND support and a broad range of activities over top-tier academic results.

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