Woodwater Academy
91%
Capacity
344
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Woodwater Academy
Woodwater Academy is a state primary in Exeter that local parents clearly trust. In the most recent admissions round for 2025/26, the school received 71 applications for 45 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.58. Of those 71 applicants, 55 put Woodwater as their first preference, and every one of the 45 places went to a first-preference family. That level of demand is a strong signal that the school is well regarded in the community. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, rated the school Good overall, with an Outstanding mark for personal development. This is an improvement on its previous inspection in 2015, which also rated the school Good overall but gave Outstanding only to early years provision and leadership. The current report shows Good grades for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision.
Academically, Woodwater performs well above the local average. At Key Stage 2, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Devon local authority average of 57%. The school's score of 73 places it second out of 17 primary schools in Exeter, and in the top 25% nationally. In reading, 86% of pupils hit the expected standard and 39% achieved the higher standard. Maths saw 86% at expected and 25% at higher, while writing had 75% at expected and 14% at higher. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 105 in maths. The school does not publish progress scores, so it is hard to say how much value it adds for individual pupils, but the attainment figures are strong, especially in reading.
The school offers a broad set of facilities including a library, sports hall, playing fields, music rooms and a sensory room. Clubs range from art and drama to coding, film club and choir, while sports include cross country, netball, dance and gymnastics. Woodwater has a nursery for three-year-olds and caters for a wide range of special educational needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and hearing or visual impairments. With 24.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. It is not a faith school and has no sixth form. For families who want a well-subscribed, high-attaining primary in Exeter with strong SEND support, Woodwater is a compelling choice.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Woodwater Lane, Exeter, Exeter, EX2 5AW |
| Headteacher | Rachel Olivant |
| Local Authority | Devon |
| Number of Pupils | 344 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.2% |
| School Capacity | 344 / 380 (91% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 6 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (73%)
3094th of 13,686
Nationally
268th of 1,469
In South West
2nd of 17
In Exeter
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
73%
Expected Standard
11%
Higher Standard
'22/23
70%
'23/24
73%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed45
71
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
55 families put this school as their 1st choice (77% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British67.2%
- Asian11.4%
- White (other)7.6%
- Mixed2.7%
- Black0.9%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Woodwater Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Woodwater Lane, Exeter
Exeter, EX2 5AW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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