Brayford Academy
Brayford, Barnstaple, EX32 7QJ
- Phase
- Primary
- School type
- Academy converter
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Trust
- TEAM MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
- Headteacher
- Mr Daniel Polak
- Constituency
- North Devon
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Capacity
- 49
- Pupils on roll
- 32
- URN
- 141761
- Local authority
- Devon
- Website
- School website
- Telephone
- 01598710345
About this school
Brayford Academy is a primary academy in Barnstaple. It teaches children aged 2 to 11 and has 32 pupils on roll.
Ofsted has inspected Brayford Academy, and its latest judgement is set out below. Where the Department for Education has published them, its results and pupil characteristics appear below. Numbers and a report only go so far, so visit in person before you apply.
Ofsted judgement
Overall judgement at the last full inspection
This inspection took place under the previous framework, which gave a single overall grade. Ofsted now publishes report cards instead, so newer inspections of other schools will look different. How Ofsted report cards work
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Effective
Exam results
Key stage 2 (end of primary school)
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of key stage 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | - | - | - |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | - | - | - |
| Expected standard in reading | - | - | - |
| Expected standard in maths | - | - | - |
| Expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling | - | - | - |
| Average scaled score in reading | - | - | - |
| Average scaled score in maths | - | - | - |
Trends over time
How Brayford Academy has moved over recent years against the local and national picture. Every figure is shown in the table beneath its chart.
| Year | This school | England average |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 5.8% | 6.8% |
| 2023/24 | 6% | 6.6% |
| 2024/25 | 7.6% | 6.2% |
Department for Education pupil absence data.
| Year | This school |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 36 |
| 2023/24 | 37 |
| 2024/25 | 30 |
School census, spring count each academic year.
How Brayford Academy compares
Its absence rate was lower than 20% of England schools in 2024/25.
| School | KS2 RWM (2024/25) | Absence | FSM (6 years) | Pupils | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This school | — | 7.6% | 14.8% | 32 | — |
| Bratton Fleming Community Primary School | 33% | 5% | 19.1% | 70 | 3.4 miles |
| North Molton Primary School | 65% | 6.4% | 24.8% | 124 | 4.2 miles |
| Filleigh Community Primary School | 20% | 6.5% | 28.6% | 61 | 4.5 miles |
| Swimbridge Church of England Primary School | 69% | 5.1% | 18.1% | 79 | 5.4 miles |
| South Molton Community Primary School | — | — | — | 242 | 5.5 miles |
Results reflect each school's cohort as much as its teaching, and free school meals share is context, not a judgement. Small gaps between neighbouring schools are rarely meaningful on their own.
School context
From the 2024/25 school census and absence figures.
- Free school meals (last 6 years)
- 14.81%
- English as an additional language
- 0%
- Overall absence
- 7.59%
- Persistent absence
- 18.18%
Location
Nearby schools
-
Bratton Fleming Community Primary School3.4 miles
Primary · Barnstaple
-
North Molton Primary School4.2 miles
Primary · South Molton
-
Filleigh Community Primary School4.5 miles
Primary · Barnstaple
-
Swimbridge Church of England Primary School5.4 miles
Primary · Barnstaple
-
South Molton Community Primary School5.5 miles
Primary · South Molton
Other schools in Barnstaple
- Ashleigh CofE Primary School Primary
- Bishops Tawton Primary School Primary
- Bratton Fleming Community Primary School Primary
- Eden Park Academy Primary
- Filleigh Community Primary School Primary
- Fremington Primary School Primary
- Goodleigh Church of England Primary School Primary
- Holywell Church of England School Primary
- Horwood and Newton Tracey Community Primary School Primary
- Kentisbury Primary School Primary
- Landkey Community Primary Academy Primary
- Marwood School Primary
Common questions
- What ages does Brayford Academy teach?
- Brayford Academy teaches children aged 2 to 11. It is a primary school in Barnstaple.
- Who is the headteacher of Brayford Academy?
- The headteacher of Brayford Academy is Mr Daniel Polak, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
- Has Brayford Academy been inspected?
- Ofsted has inspected Brayford Academy, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.
- How many pupils are at Brayford Academy?
- Brayford Academy has 32 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 2 to 11.
- Is Brayford Academy full?
- Brayford Academy has capacity for 49 pupils and 32 on roll (65%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.
- Is Brayford Academy a faith school?
- No. Brayford Academy has no designated religious character.
- Is Brayford Academy part of an academy trust?
- Brayford Academy is part of TEAM MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.
- What is Brayford Academy's absence rate?
- Brayford Academy's overall absence rate is 7.6% in the latest published census, above the England average of 6.2%.
- What are Brayford Academy's exam results?
- Where the Department for Education has published them, Brayford Academy's key stage results are shown in the results section on this page, with the last three years so you can see the trend rather than a single year.
School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. This page was last updated on 1 July 2026.