Goodleigh Church of England Primary School

About Goodleigh Church of England Primary School

Goodleigh Church of England Primary School sits in a quiet corner of North Devon, and its headline metrics tell a story that parents will want to weigh carefully. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 57 per cent, but Goodleigh’s figure is 42 per cent — a gap of 15 percentage points. That places the school 203rd out of 309 primary schools in Devon, and in the bottom half nationally. The picture is more mixed when you look at individual subjects: 67 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in writing, which is respectable, while reading and maths lag behind at 58 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. Higher-attaining pupils are scarce — just 8 per cent reached the higher standard in maths, and none did so in writing or the combined measure. For families focused squarely on academic outcomes, these numbers are a clear signal to dig deeper.

The school’s Ofsted record offers some reassurance, though it is dated. Its most recent graded inspection, in 2012, rated overall effectiveness as Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. Leadership and management were also judged Good in 2012, as was early years provision. There are no published Progress 8 scores for this primary, so it is hard to say whether pupils are making typical gains from their starting points. The absence of progress data for reading, writing and maths means parents will need to ask the school directly about how children who join below age-related expectations are supported. The 2022 ungraded visit suggests no major decline, but with the last full inspection over a decade ago, families may want to check whether a fresh graded inspection is due soon.

Practical considerations are more encouraging. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 12 first-preference applications for 12 places and one additional application overall, giving a modest oversubscription ratio of 1.08. Facilities include a library, art studios, music rooms, a forest school, playing fields and a chapel — a decent range for a small primary. Clubs cover film, art, chess, book club, gardening and eco club, and sports include cricket, football, cross country, gymnastics and dance. SEND provision is explicitly listed for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, and physical disability. With 20.8 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage. Goodleigh will suit families who value a Church of England ethos, a village setting, and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are prepared to engage closely on academic progress.

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