Bow Community Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed

Station Road, Bow, Crediton, EX17 6HU

0136382319 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 4 February 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths40%England 62% · 2024/25
7th highest of 7 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 7% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils133Room for 150 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 138 in 2019, 128 in 2021, 122 in 2022, 111 in 2023, 145 in 2024, 143 in 2025, 133 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.021 for 21 places, September 2026
Joint 1st highest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 4 February 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Crediton comparisons use the 4 of its 11 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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.

StatementThis schoolCreditonEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crediton.
Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 92% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crediton.
Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 95% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crediton.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 83% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 90 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Devon.
Higher than 100% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% – 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 29 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crediton.
Higher than 72% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 83% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crediton.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92%said yes 89% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 25%). 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. Crediton figures pool parents at the Crediton 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.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

20 pupils in this year group.

40% — 19 points below the Devon average, and 22 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 40% 59% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 5% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 70% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 55% 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 55% 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. 100 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 50%This school 2023/24: 48%This school 2024/25: 40% This school England 62% 2022/23 50% 2023/24 48% 2024/25 40%

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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered21
Families who put it first21
Of those, offered a place21 (100%)
Families who listed it at all28

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Devon

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolDevonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
19.6% 20.0%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.9% 3.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
8th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.8% 15.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
6th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.7% 6.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
7th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.8% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
6th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Lower than 69% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
8.7% 10.9%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
8th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Lower than 44% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.4 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
8th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.4% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.04% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 31% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
19.0 20.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 11 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
13.1 10.6 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 7 state primary schools in Crediton.
Higher than 92% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
32.8% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Bow Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 4 February 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Bow Community Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 40% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 22 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Bow Community Primary School?

92% of the 36 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Bow Community Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Bow Community Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 21 families put Bow Community Primary School as their first choice for 21 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 21 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.