St Gabriel's CofE Primary School

About St Gabriel's CofE Primary School

St Gabriel's CofE Primary School in Exeter was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school's most telling academic metric is its Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths at the expected standard: 70% of pupils achieved this benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits comfortably above the Devon local authority average of 57%, placing St Gabriel's 4th out of 17 primary schools within Exeter itself and 49th out of 309 similar schools across the whole county. The school also ranks in the top 50% nationally for this measure, sitting at the 32nd percentile. While the overall picture is positive, the data also shows that only 13% of pupils reached the higher standard in all three subjects, suggesting that while most children are meeting expectations, fewer are exceeding them.

Looking closer at the individual subject scores, maths stands out as a relative strength. 87% of pupils reached the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 104, and 30% achieved the higher standard. Reading and writing were slightly weaker by comparison: 74% of pupils met the expected standard in reading and 83% in writing, with only 17% reaching the higher standard in each. The school's Progress 8 scores are not available, so it is difficult to assess how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. However, the Ofsted inspection noted that standards are being maintained, and the leadership and management were also graded Good. With 53.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage, making its above-average attainment particularly noteworthy.

St Gabriel's is a Church of England primary school for children aged 2 to 11, with a nursery on site. It has a capacity of 210 and currently has 195 pupils on roll. The school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 42 applications for 23 places, with 22 of those offers going to first-preference families. Facilities include a forest school, sensory room, chapel, library, ICT suite and playing fields. The school offers a wide range of clubs including chess, coding, gardening and drama, plus sports such as swimming, cross country and athletics. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, physical disabilities and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent feedback is strong: 89% of respondents would recommend the school, and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded local primary with strong core results, a church foundation and good support for children with additional needs.

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