Foundation school · Devon

Instow Community Primary and Pre-School

4–11Ages
136Pupils
PrimaryPhase
113156URN

Rectory Lane, Instow, Bideford, EX39 4LU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodNov 2011

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · May 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

0.3 above Devon median (1.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Devon

30 applications for 17 places · 33rd of 163 in Devon

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

72%met the expected standard

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodNov 2011

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · May 2023

Inspection history

4 May 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
15 November 2011
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.8applications per place, Reception

0.3 above Devon median (1.5) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

30 applications · 17 places offered · 16 named it first

2026 1.8; Devon median median 1.5
2025 1.6; Devon median median 1.5
2024 1.7; Devon median median 1.6
2023 2.5; Devon median median 1.6
2022 2.1; Devon median median 1.6
2021 2.5; Devon median median 1.6
2020 1.8; Devon median median 1.6
2019 2.9; Devon median median 1.6
2018 2.7; Devon median median 1.6
2017 3.1; Devon median median 1.6
2016 2.5; Devon median median 1.6
2015 2.6; Devon median median 1.7
2014 2.8; Devon median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Devon median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Devon median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	17	30	1.8	16	0.94
Sep 2025	20	32	1.6	20	1.00
Sep 2024	23	39	1.7	23	1.00
Sep 2023	14	35	2.5	13	0.93
Sep 2022	20	42	2.1	20	1.00
Sep 2021	20	49	2.5	22	1.10
Sep 2020	21	38	1.8	17	0.81
Sep 2019	20	58	2.9	19	0.95
Sep 2018	20	54	2.7	22	1.10
Sep 2017	21	64	3.1	22	1.05
Sep 2016	20	49	2.5	19	0.95
Sep 2015	20	51	2.6	23	1.15
Sep 2014	19	53	2.8	17	0.89

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 89% · Writing 72% · Maths 83% → all three 72% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard72%65th of 266 in Devon

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard89%

Devon 79% England 78%

Higher standard44%

Devon 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard72%

Devon 74% England 75%

Greater depth6%

Devon 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard83%

Devon 75% England 77%

Higher standard44%

Devon 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Devon median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	72%	6%	108	107
2023/24	50%	0%	104	103
2022/23	83%	0%	107	105

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Instow Community Primary and Pre-SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Appledore School
2.3 km · Devon

Good2023

1.6applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
Fremington Primary School
3.0 km · Devon

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
St George's CofE Infant and Nursery School
3.8 km · Devon

2025

1.0applications per place
St Margaret's Church of England Junior School
3.8 km · Devon

Requires improvement2020

46%met the SATs standard
St Mary's CofE Primary School
4.6 km · Devon

Remains Good2023

2.0applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Southmead School
5.0 km · Devon

Remains Good2023

1.4applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Roundswell Community Primary Academy
5.1 km · Devon

Good2023

1.5applications per place
East-the-Water Community Primary School
5.2 km · Devon

Remains Good2023

1.3applications per place 69%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Foundation school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 113156 · 878/2233
Trust: Atlantic Coast Co-Operative Trust
Capacity: 140 pupils · 136 on roll
Free school meals: 11.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Rectory Lane, Instow, Bideford, EX39 4LU
Local authority: Devon · North Devon

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources