West Down School
West Down, Ilfracombe, EX34 8NF
- Phase
- Primary
- School type
- Academy converter
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Trust
- THE HARBOUR SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
- Headteacher
- Mrs Susan Carey
- Nursery provision
- Has Nursery Classes
- Sponsor
- Ventrus Limited
- Constituency
- North Devon
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Capacity
- 105
- Pupils on roll
- 95
- URN
- 150916
- Local authority
- Devon
- Website
- School website
- Telephone
- 01271863461
About this school
West Down School is a primary academy in Ilfracombe. It teaches children aged 2 to 11 and has 95 pupils on roll.
You can read Ofsted's latest judgement for the school 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
This inspection took place when the school was registered as West Down School (URN 113172).
How West Down School compares
| School | KS2 RWM (2024/25) | Absence | FSM (6 years) | Pupils | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This school | — | — | — | 95 | — |
| Marwood School | — | — | — | 72 | 3.1 miles |
| Ilfracombe Infant and Nursery School | — | 7.3% | 27.8% | 207 | 3.2 miles |
| Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School | 37% | 5.7% | 33.4% | 326 | 3.3 miles |
| Woolacombe School | 70% | 7% | 12.5% | 216 | 3.4 miles |
| Georgeham Church of England Primary School | 46% | 5.1% | 9.9% | 76 | 3.5 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.
Location
Nearby schools
-
Marwood School3.1 miles
Primary · Barnstaple
-
Ilfracombe Infant and Nursery School3.2 miles
Primary · Ilfracombe
-
Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School3.3 miles
Primary · Ilfracombe
-
Woolacombe School3.4 miles
Primary · Woolacombe
-
Georgeham Church of England Primary School3.5 miles
Primary · Braunton
Other schools in Ilfracombe
Common questions
- What year groups does West Down School teach?
- West Down School teaches children aged 2 to 11. It is a primary school in Ilfracombe.
- Who is the headteacher of West Down School?
- The headteacher of West Down School is Mrs Susan Carey, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
- When was West Down School last inspected?
- Ofsted has inspected West Down School, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.
- How big is West Down School?
- West Down School has 95 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 2 to 11.
- Is West Down School full?
- West Down School has capacity for 105 pupils and 95 on roll (90%), 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 West Down School a faith school?
- No. West Down School has no designated religious character.
- Does West Down School have a nursery?
- Yes. The schools register records West Down School as having nursery classes.
- Who runs West Down School?
- West Down School is part of THE HARBOUR SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.
- Does West Down School publish exam results?
- OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for West Down School. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.
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 10 July 2026.