Kilmington Primary School

Kilmington Primary School has been judged to require improvement in several areas following its first inspection in over a decade, moving from an outstanding previous grade. The school demonstrates notable strengths in its strong focus on early reading and mathematics, where pupils are reported to achieve well. However, challenges remain in the wider curriculum, which has not been effectively evaluated, leading to gaps in pupils' learning. Despite these issues, pupils express happiness and safety at the school, supported by dedicated staff and good behavioural standards.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on English and mathematics leading to good pupil achievement in these subjects.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils fostering a respectful environment.
• Pupils enjoy school and have high attendance.
• Effective early years provision that establishes strong foundational skills.
• Well-organized phonics training assisting pupils in achieving early reading fluency.
• Good personal, social, and health education curriculum teaching fundamental values.

Areas for Improvement

• Wider curriculum lacks effective evaluation and sequential planning.
• Insufficient assessment across subjects beyond early reading and mathematics.
• Gaps in pupils' knowledge due to lack of structured learning steps.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Kilmington Primary School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Kilmington Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Kilmington Primary School had 14.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 12.5% of pupils at Kilmington Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2020–21 Kilmington Primary School received £6,167 and spent £5,662 for each of its 87 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £55,000 (£637 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Axminster · Devon local authority: places and applications

What is Kilmington Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Kilmington Primary School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Kilmington Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Kilmington Primary School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Kilmington Primary School have?

Kilmington Primary School has 72 pupils on roll.

What age range does Kilmington Primary School cover?

Kilmington Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Kilmington Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 38% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Kilmington Primary School?

Kilmington Primary School is at Whitford Road, Kilmington, Axminster, Devon, EX13 7RG.