SchoolScoresBowhill Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed
Part of EXETER LEARNING ACADEMY TRUST
Buddle Lane, St Thomas, Exeter, EX4 1JT
01392 206585 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 November 2016. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 May 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
144 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Exeter comparisons use the 26 of its 53 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 27 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 | Exeter | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 16th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 16th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 11th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 42 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 4th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 86% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 60% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 108 parents who had raised a concern Joint 13th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 58% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 84% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 31 parents of children with SEND 6th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 39% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 69% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 13th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 67% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 31%). 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. Exeter figures pool parents at the Exeter 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
71 pupils in this year group.
55% — 4 points below the Devon average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 55% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 1% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 73% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 69% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 72% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 57 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 57 |
| Of those, offered a place | 57 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 103 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 23rd highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.5% | 20.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 19th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 21st highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.4% | 15.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 16th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 62% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.7% | 6.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 42nd lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 38th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 38% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.7% | 10.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 44th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 12% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 35th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 20th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 61% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.5 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 3rd highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 89% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 44 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 81% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 23.8% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Montgomery Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Gabriel's CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St David's CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ide Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Exwick Heights Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Alphington Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Leonard's (CofE) Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Sidwell's CofE Primary School and Nursery 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 strong · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newtown Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2021, before conversion) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bowhill Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bowhill Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 November 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 May 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Bowhill Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 55% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Bowhill Primary School?
95% of the 144 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Bowhill Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bowhill Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 57 families put Bowhill Primary School as their first choice for 57 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 57 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 143193.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.