Voluntary aided school · Devon

The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary School

4–11Ages
151Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
113430URN

1 Beacon Place, Exmouth, EX8 2SR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Special measures

Report card · inspected Jan 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.2per place

0.3 below Devon median (1.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Devon

12 applications for 10 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

57%met the expected standard

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Special measures

Report card · inspected 13 January 2026Published 11 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention	Urgent improvement
Inclusion			Needs attention
Curriculum and teaching			Needs attention
Achievement			Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour		Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years				Urgent improvement
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance				Urgent improvement

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

13 January 2026
Report card · 2 Expected standard, 3 Needs attention, 2 Urgent improvement
14 July 2021
Ungraded inspection: School remains 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

1.2applications per place, Reception

0.3 below Devon median (1.5) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

12 applications · 10 places offered · 9 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.2; Devon median median 1.5
2025 1.6; Devon median median 1.5
2024 1.5; Devon median median 1.6
2023 1.6; Devon median median 1.6
2022 3.0; Devon median median 1.6
2021 1.5; Devon median median 1.6
2020 2.1; Devon median median 1.6
2019 1.8; Devon median median 1.6
2018 1.8; Devon median median 1.6
2017 1.8; Devon median median 1.6
2016 2.3; Devon median median 1.6
2015 3.2; Devon median median 1.7
2014 2.4; Devon median median 1.6

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	10	12	1.2	9	0.90
Sep 2025	18	28	1.6	18	1.00
Sep 2024	25	37	1.5	25	1.00
Sep 2023	13	21	1.6	13	1.00
Sep 2022	6	18	3.0	6	1.00
Sep 2021	30	46	1.5	30	1.00
Sep 2020	19	39	2.1	18	0.95
Sep 2019	29	52	1.8	26	0.90
Sep 2018	30	55	1.8	37	1.23
Sep 2017	24	42	1.8	23	0.96
Sep 2016	29	67	2.3	34	1.17
Sep 2015	20	64	3.2	32	1.60
Sep 2014	22	52	2.4	25	1.14

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 60% · Writing 83% · Maths 73% → all three 57% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard57%155th of 266 in Devon

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard60%

Devon 79% England 78%

Higher standard37%

Devon 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard83%

Devon 74% England 75%

Greater depth23%

Devon 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard73%

Devon 75% England 77%

Higher standard23%

Devon 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 103 (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	57%	13%	105	103
2023/24	50%	11%	106	105
2022/23	52%	7%	106	103

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

The Beacon Church of England (VA) Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Special measures 2026

1.2applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Exeter Road Community Primary School
0.5 km · Devon

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 8%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Exmouth
0.7 km · Devon

Remains Good2024

1.3applications per place 36%met the SATs standard
Withycombe Raleigh Church of England Primary School
1.7 km · Devon

Good2024

1.7applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Marpool Primary School
1.8 km · Devon

Special measures Inadequate2023

1.9applications per place 31%met the SATs standard
Cockwood Primary School
2.5 km · Devon

Remains Good2023

2.1applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Brixington Primary Academy
2.6 km · Devon

2026

1.6applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Littleham Church of England Primary School
2.6 km · Devon

Special measures Inadequate2023

1.2applications per place 8%met the SATs standard
Bassetts Farm Primary School
2.6 km · Devon

Good2024

1.7applications per place 63%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: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 113430 · 878/3309
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 151 on roll
Free school meals: 19.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: 1 Beacon Place, Exmouth, EX8 2SR
Local authority: Devon · East Devon

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