Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School

About Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School

Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School's headline KS2 results sit noticeably below the Devon local authority average, which is a key point for parents weighing up their options. The school's combined reading, writing and maths expected standard attainment sits at 40%, compared with a county average of 57% for primary schools. That 17-point gap places the school in the bottom half of Devon primaries, ranked 211th out of 309. In North Devon specifically, it ranks 31st out of 31 schools, putting it at the bottom of its immediate local area. The school's score of 40 on the KS2 reading, writing and maths expected metric places it in the bottom 50% nationally. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. Reading scores are a relative strength, with 65% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 21% achieving the higher standard, while maths sits at 53% expected and 13% higher. Writing is the weakest area, with just 51% at expected and only 1% at the higher level.

Despite the academic results, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2024 painted a more positive picture. While the overall effectiveness was not judged (the school was previously rated Good in 2019), inspectors awarded Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes, and Good for both quality of education and personal development. This aligns strongly with parent feedback from the Parent View survey, where 97% of respondents would recommend the school. An overwhelming 95% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 98% felt their child is safe. The school's SEND provision also received strong backing, with 92% of parents agreeing that children with special educational needs get the support they need. The school has a resourced provision and supports a wide range of needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication difficulties, and physical disabilities.

Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School is a junior-only setting for pupils aged 7 to 11, with a Church of England character. It currently has 374 pupils against a capacity of 480, so there is some room for growth. A third of pupils (32.6%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average. The school offers a Forest School programme, a chapel, art studios, and a range of clubs including gardening, coding, eco club, drama and choir. Sports on offer include football, cricket, cross country and gymnastics. For families who prioritise a supportive, well-behaved environment over headline academic scores, this school may be a strong fit. The Outstanding behaviour rating and very high parent satisfaction around happiness and safety suggest a school where children feel settled and cared for, even if the academic outcomes are not yet matching the local average.

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