School profile

West Down School

Primary · Academy converter · Ilfracombe, EX34 8NF

Good

Map showing West Down School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

West Down School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 1 Oct 2019

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhasePrimary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages2 to 11
Pupils95
GenderMixed
Head teacherMrs Faye Poynter
TrustTHE HARBOUR SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
Local authorityDevon
Opened01 Apr 2025
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 150916.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils95
Girls50
Boys45
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.14.7%
First language not English1.1%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.105
Pupils excluding nurseryPupils who take up school places.83
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.21%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.20
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.4
Average class size20.8

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
94.7%
White and Asian
3.2%
Indian
1.1%
Irish
0%
Traveller of Irish heritage
0%
Other White
0%
Gypsy/Roma
0%
White and Black Caribbean
0%
White and Black African
0%
Other mixed
0%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.2
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.8.2
Teachers (FTE)6.27
Teaching assistants (FTE)5.27
Support staff (FTE)9.1

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Reception)Places offered on national offer day.10
Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed.12
First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice.10
First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.10
Applications from another local authority (Reception)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Overall absence7.6%, worse than England, worse than Devon5.1%5.1%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.18.7%, worse than England, worse than Devon12.2%13.2%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.1.3%, similar to England, similar to Devon1.1%1%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Frequently asked questions about West Down School

What is West Down School's Ofsted rating?

West Down School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 1 Oct 2019.

How hard is it to get into West Down School?

For Reception entry in 2026/27, West Down School made 10 offers from 12 applications (1.2 per offer), and 10 of 10 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend West Down School?

West Down School has 95 pupils aged 2 to 11.

What is the capacity of West Down School?

West Down School had 105 school places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at West Down School?

At West Down School, the average class had 20.8 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.2 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at West Down School?

In 2025/26, pupils at West Down School missed 7.6% of sessions (England 5.1%), and 18.7% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 13.2%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.