Shirwell Community Primary School

About Shirwell Community Primary School

Shirwell Community Primary School is a small state primary in North Devon with just 39 pupils, and its headline metrics paint a picture of a school that performs broadly in line with the Devon local authority average for its type. The most recent available data shows the LA average Key Stage 2 score sits at 57, and while Shirwell’s own KS2 results are not provided in the data, the school’s Ofsted rating of Good suggests it meets the expected standard. What stands out here is the scale: with a capacity of 56 and only 39 pupils on roll, this is a genuinely intimate setting where class sizes are small by default. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with six applications for a single place, so demand clearly outstrips supply. That ratio of 6:1 is high for a village primary and hints at strong local reputation, even if the raw academic scores aren’t available to compare directly against the LA average.

Academically, Shirwell has held a Good rating from Ofsted across its two most recent graded inspections, in 2010 and 2015, and an ungraded inspection in 2018 confirmed the school remains Good. The breakdown from the 2015 inspection shows Good ratings for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, early years provision, and quality of education. The early years provision was rated Good, which is reassuring for parents of children starting in Reception. There are no Progress 8 or A-Level results to report because this is a primary school without a sixth form, and the data does not include specific KS2 SATs scores for Shirwell. However, the fact that the school has maintained Good across multiple inspections over a decade suggests consistent teaching quality. With only 10.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively advantaged catchment compared to the national average, which may contribute to its steady performance.

For families considering Shirwell, the practical picture is one of a well-equipped small school with strong pastoral and SEND support. The facilities list includes an ICT suite, sensory room, sports hall, art studios, music rooms, and even a chapel, which is generous for a school of this size. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, netball, and gymnastics, while clubs range from book club and drama to science and gardening. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder, so it is well set up to support a range of additional needs. With no nursery provision and no boarding, this is a straightforward day primary for children aged 4 to 11. Given its oversubscription, families should apply early and consider it a first preference if they value a small, community-focused school with good specialist facilities and a consistent track record of Good teaching.

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