Salcombe Church of England Primary School

Salcombe Church of England Primary School, currently part of the First Federation Trust, is undergoing changes in leadership and staffing that have impacted its performance since its previous good rating in 2021. Despite having a supportive and nurturing environment where pupils feel proud to belong, the school's curriculum has not been effectively established. As a result, pupils are not achieving their full potential, particularly in applying their learning across subjects. The school’s next inspection will be graded, reflecting the concerns about maintaining high standards of education.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate pride and a sense of belonging within 'Team Salcombe'.
• Strong, respectful relationships exist between staff and pupils.
• The school fosters a supportive community ethos that prioritizes safety and happiness.
• There is effective early reading instruction and support for those who struggle.
• Pupils experience a diverse range of learning opportunities through trips and outdoor activities.

Areas for Improvement

• Expectations for pupils' learning are not sufficiently high.
• Curriculum changes have not been effectively implemented across all subjects.
• Opportunities for pupils to practice and consolidate their learning are inadequate.

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 Salcombe Church of England Primary School attended 94.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.5% 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 Salcombe Church of England 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 Salcombe Church of England Primary School had 15.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 33.3% 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, 25.0% of pupils at Salcombe Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.2% 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 2024–25 Salcombe Church of England Primary School received £7,275 and spent £6,882 for each of its 102 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £28,000 (£277 per pupil).

Across all 29 schools of The First Federation Trust, income was £7,461 and spending £7,535 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in South Hams · Devon local authority: places and applications

Salcombe Church of England Primary School is part of The First Federation Trust, which runs 29 schools. The nearest others:

• Aveton Gifford CofE Primary School Kingsbridge
• Newton Ferrers Church of England Primary School Newton Ferrers Plymouth
• St Budeaux CofE Primary Academy Plymouth
• Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery Plymouth
• Blackpool Church of England Primary School Newton Abbot
• Chudleigh Knighton Church of England Primary School Newton Abbot
• Bere Alston Primary Academy Yelverton
• Whitchurch Community Primary School Tavistock
• Westcliff Primary Academy Dawlish
• Gatehouse Primary Academy Dawlish

What is Salcombe Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Salcombe Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Salcombe Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Salcombe Church of England Primary School was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Salcombe Church of England Primary School have?

Salcombe Church of England Primary School has 80 pupils on roll.

What age range does Salcombe Church of England Primary School cover?

Salcombe Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Salcombe Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Salcombe Church of England Primary School?

Salcombe Church of England Primary School is at Onslow Road, Salcombe, Devon, TQ8 8AG.