SchoolScoresBickleigh Down CofE Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
School Drive, Woolwell, Plymouth, PL6 7JW
01752 301837 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 31 October 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
109 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Plymouth comparisons use the 37 of its 75 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 38 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Plymouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 23rd highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth. Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 16th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 18th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 88% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 51 parents whose child had been bullied 22nd highest of 28 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth. Higher than 31% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 47% | 56% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 78 parents who had raised a concern Joint 23rd highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth. Higher than 23% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 80% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 21st highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth. Higher than 28% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Plymouth figures pool parents at the Plymouth schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
78% — 19 points above the Devon average, and 16 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 78% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 12% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 92% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Devon. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 54 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 47 |
| Of those, offered a place | 47 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 73 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 56th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.8% | 20.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 33rd highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 74th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.6% | 15.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 39th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.6% | 6.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 88% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 10.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 16th lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 62% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 13th lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 28th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 63% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.7 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 18th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 84% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.0 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 60th highest of 71 state primary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 17.8%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Widewell Primary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oakwood Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thornbury Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beechwood Primary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 34% met expected standard (KS2)
- Tor Bridge Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 86% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Matthew's CofE Primary and Nursery Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Leigham Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitleigh Community Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Edward's CofE Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 27% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 31 October 2023.
How did Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 16 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School?
84% of the 109 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 47 families put Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School as their first choice for 54 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 47 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 113493.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.