Marhamchurch CofE Academy

Marhamchurch CofE Academy is currently in a phase of recovery after experiencing a period of decline. The recent transition to the Learning Academy Partnership has sparked improvements, particularly in educational practices and curriculum development. The school environment is positive and nurturing, with a strong emphasis on personal development and positive relationships among pupils. However, while some progress has been made under the leadership of the new headteacher, significant challenges remain, especially in the consistency and effectiveness of the curriculum, which is still in various stages of development.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit positive attitudes towards learning.
• The school has a supportive and safe environment.
• High profile of sports and music participation.
• Strong leadership from the headteacher and trust.
• Effective safeguarding arrangements.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum lacks precision in identifying essential knowledge.
• Some teaching activities do not align with curriculum intentions.
• Inconsistent staff training, particularly for phonics instruction.

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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.4% 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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy 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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy had 22.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 24.2% 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, 8.6% of pupils at Marhamchurch CofE Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.8% 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 Marhamchurch CofE Academy received £5,972 and spent £6,268 for each of its 147 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £72,000 (£487 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of Learning Academy Partnership (South West), income was £7,538 and spending £7,364 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 Bude · Cornwall local authority: places and applications

Marhamchurch CofE Academy is part of Learning Academy Partnership (South West), which runs 22 schools. The nearest others:

• Jacobstow Community Academy Bude
• St Mark's CofE Academy Bude
• Clawton Academy Holsworthy
• Lifton Community Academy Lifton
• St Helens Church of England Academy Bideford
• The Clinton Church of England Primary School Merton
• Lamerton CofE Primary Academy Tavistock
• Dolton Church of England Academy Winkleigh
• Gulworthy Primary Academy Tavistock
• St Andrew's Church of England Academy Yelverton

What is Marhamchurch CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Marhamchurch CofE Academy is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Marhamchurch CofE Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Marhamchurch CofE Academy was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Marhamchurch CofE Academy have?

Marhamchurch CofE Academy has 128 pupils on roll.

What age range does Marhamchurch CofE Academy cover?

Marhamchurch CofE Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Marhamchurch CofE Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Marhamchurch CofE Academy?

Marhamchurch CofE Academy is at Helebridge Road, Marhamchurch, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 0HY.