Shirwell Community Primary School
Shirwell Community Primary School is an academy converter in Barnstaple for pupils aged 4 to 11. It has 25 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Shirwell Community Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2018 of its predecessor, Shirwell Community Primary School. In 2025, 13% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Ofsted inspection: April 2024. KS2 results: 2025.
| Type | Primary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 4-11 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | School Lane Shirwell Barnstaple Devon EX31 4JT |
| Phone | 01271850295 |
| Reference Number | 150686 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 25 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 40%
Girls: 60% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 24% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 0% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 12.5 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 19 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2 | 1 | Unknown | 1 |
| 3 | Unknown | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 84% |
| White, Other | 12% |
| Mixed, Other | 4% |
This school has not been graded since it changed URN, usually on converting to an academy. The rating shown is from its predecessor, Shirwell Community Primary School, inspected in July 2018.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | This school has not had an inspection yet. |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 06 Apr 2024 | Academy conversion letter |
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 13% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 98 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Maths | 97 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
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See how Shirwell Community Primary School ranks locally and nationally. Percentile rankings against every other school, historic result charts, admissions data and post-GCSE destinations are all included.
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Unlock for £9.99Reception admissions, 2026 entry
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 1 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 0 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 Shirwell Community Primary School had 34 pupils for 56 places. 22 places (39.3%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “Barnstaple rural Primary” planning area
Devon counted 60 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 67 in 2029–30, up 12%.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Places | 56 | 56 |
| Pupils | 42 | 34 |
| Unfilled | 25.0% | 39.3% |
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 Shirwell Community Primary School attended 95.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 3.6% |
| Unauthorised absence | 1.0% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% |
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 Shirwell Community Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 |
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 Shirwell Community Primary School had 8.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 47.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 6.2 | 4.4 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 27.8% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | – | – |
| Sick days per teacher | – | – |
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, 48.0% of pupils at Shirwell Community Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Social, emotional and mental health | 6 | 1 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 5 | 0 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 0 | 1 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 1 | 0 |
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 Shirwell Community Primary School received £12,673 and spent £14,214 for each of its 39 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £26,000 (£676 per pupil).
Across all 35 schools of The Harbour Schools Partnership, income was £6,261 and spending £6,333 per pupil.
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £26,000 |
| per pupil | £676 |
| In-year balance | -£60,000 |
| per pupil | -£1,541 |
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.
| Name | Distance |
|
Goodleigh Church of England Primary School
Goodleigh, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 7LU |
1.95 miles |
|
Marwood School
Whiddon, Muddiford, Milltown, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4HF |
2.74 miles |
|
Orchard Vale Community School
Westacott Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8QY |
2.76 miles |
|
Yeo Valley Primary School
Derby Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 7HB |
2.92 miles |
|
Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple
Chanters Hill, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8DN |
2.94 miles |
|
Pilton Infants' Academy
Abbey Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1JU |
3.03 miles |
|
Eden Park Academy
Eden Park Academy, Forches Avenue, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8EF |
3.04 miles |
|
Pilton Bluecoat Church of England Academy
Abbey Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1JU |
3.05 miles |
|
Ashleigh CofE Primary School
Bevan Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8LJ |
3.12 miles |
|
Bratton Fleming Community Primary School
Station Road, Bratton Fleming, Station Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4SB |
3.2 miles |
|
Newport Community School Primary Academy
Landkey Road, Newport, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 9BW |
3.42 miles |
|
Landkey Community Primary Academy
Bakery Way, Landkey, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 0LJ |
3.76 miles |
|
Kentisbury Primary School
Kentisbury, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4NG |
4.22 miles |
|
Sticklepath Community Primary Academy
Woodville Estate, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 2HH |
4.27 miles |
|
Bishops Tawton Primary School
School Lane, Bishops Tawton, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 0AE |
4.57 miles |
|
Swimbridge Church of England Primary School
Barnstaple Hill, Swimbridge, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 0PJ |
4.67 miles |
|
Roundswell Community Primary Academy
Roundswell School, Claypits Road, Roundswell, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3WJ |
4.98 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Pathfield School
Abbey Road, Pilton, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1JU |
3.09 miles |
|
Pilton Community College
Chaddiford Lane, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1RB |
3.17 miles |
|
On Track Education Barnstaple
Narita House, Fishleigh Rd, Roundswell Business Park, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3UD |
3.17 miles |
|
The Lampard Community School
St John's Lane, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 9DD |
3.36 miles |
|
The Park Community School
Park Lane, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 9AX |
3.65 miles |
All schools in Barnstaple · Devon local authority: places and applications
Shirwell Community Primary School is part of The Harbour Schools Partnership, which runs 36 schools. The nearest others:
- Marwood School Barnstaple
- Orchard Vale Community School Barnstaple
- Eden Park Academy Barnstaple
- Ashleigh CofE Primary School Barnstaple
- Pilton Community College Barnstaple
- Bratton Fleming Community Primary School Barnstaple
- Newport Community School Primary Academy Barnstaple
- The Park Community School Barnstaple
- Landkey Community Primary Academy Barnstaple
- Sticklepath Community Primary Academy Barnstaple
What is Shirwell Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Shirwell Community Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2018 of its predecessor, Shirwell Community Primary School.
When was Shirwell Community Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?
Shirwell Community Primary School was last inspected in April 2024.
How many pupils does Shirwell Community Primary School have?
Shirwell Community Primary School has 25 pupils on roll.
What age range does Shirwell Community Primary School cover?
Shirwell Community Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.
What are Shirwell Community Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?
In 2025, 13% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Where is Shirwell Community Primary School?
Shirwell Community Primary School is at School Lane, Shirwell, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4JT.