Woodwater Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of THE HARBOUR SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

Woodwater Lane, Exeter, EX2 5AW

01392 274147 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 5 March 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths65%England 62% · 2024/25
22nd highest of 43 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 50% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils329Room for 380 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 325 in 2019, 316 in 2021, 310 in 2022, 333 in 2023, 329 in 2024, 344 in 2025, 329 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.938 for 40 places, September 2026
39th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 38% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 March 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 developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

70 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 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.

StatementThis schoolExeterEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 5th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter.
Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
99% 95% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 10th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter.
Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 95% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 14th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter.
Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 91% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 21 parents whose child had been bullied
8th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter.
Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 60% 50%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 47 parents who had raised a concern
12th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter.
Higher than 68% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 84% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 8th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter.
Higher than 72% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96%said yes 92% 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. 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.

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Results

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

37 pupils in this year group.

65% — 6 points above the Devon average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDevonEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 65% 59% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 11% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 76% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 65% 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 84% 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. 107 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 70%This school 2023/24: 73%This school 2024/25: 65% This school England 62% 2022/23 70% 2023/24 73% 2024/25 65%

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 offered40
Families who put it first38
Of those, offered a place38 (100%)
Families who listed it at all59

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.2 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Devon

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolDevonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
9th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
24.3% 20.0%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.1% 3.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
12th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
19.2% 15.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
26.7% 6.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
43rd lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.7% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
42nd lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
15.2% 10.9%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
30th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.2 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
26th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Lower than 52% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.6% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.04% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
14th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 75% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
22.8 20.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 36th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter.
Higher than 30% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
9.6 10.6 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 38th highest of 44 state primary schools in Exeter.
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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Woodwater Academy's Ofsted rating?

Woodwater Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 March 2024.

How did Woodwater Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Woodwater Academy?

96% of the 70 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Woodwater Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Woodwater Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 38 families put Woodwater Academy as their first choice for 40 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 38 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.