School profile Verified 18 August 2026

Devon Private schools

St Wilfrid's School

25-29 St David's Hill, Exeter, EX4 4DA

St Wilfrid's School is a private secondary-stage school in Exeter, Devon, with a published age range of 3-16.

Private school Co-ed Ages 3-16 No sixth form listed No boarders
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
3-16
Ofsted ?
All standards Met
Boarding ?
No boarders
Compare Official website Map

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Mixed
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
3-16
Boarding ?
No boarders
Route check
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Ofsted ?
All standards Met

Overview

Close relationships and individual attention give St Wilfrid's School its particular character. Pupils are known well enough for pastoral support and learning needs to be handled in the same small community, while the education moves from early learning through the later secondary years without boarding or a Sixth Form changing that focus.

The curriculum is organised to build knowledge over time rather than treating subjects as isolated units. Art and design offers a clear example: colour mixing and overlay in Key Stage 2 lead to greater control of light and dark tones in watercolour in Years 7 and 8. The result is a deliberately sequenced experience with room for pupils to practise and revisit ideas.

Reading is prioritised through guided sessions and regular reading in Key Stages 3 and 4, supporting vocabulary, comprehension, inference, analysis and evaluation. A wide PSHE programme, school-council activity, careers education, workshops, events and work experience add practical preparation and pupil voice.

Residential visits, local theatre trips, rugby and running clubs broaden life beyond lessons. Careers guidance and links with local colleges support pupils as they prepare for further education or training after Year 11. The portrait is of a small community where close relationships and carefully sequenced learning sit together.

Key points

Assessment route
Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
Places and demand
Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
Catchment
Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
Results
62.5% grade 5+ in English and maths and 38.8 Attainment 8

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Devon and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for St Wilfrid's School, Devon, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
38.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
62.5%
EBacc APS
3.46
EBacc entry
12.5%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Devon and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for St Wilfrid's School, Devon, and England. 60 50 40 30 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details

Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Mixed
Age range
3-16
Headteacher
Mr Ross Bovingdon
Pupil roll
30 pupils
Sixth form
No

Location and contact

Address

Address
25-29 St David's Hill, Exeter, Devon
Postcode
EX4 4DA
Area
Devon

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Ross Bovingdon

School contact

School phone
01392276171

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions phone
01392276171

Admissions

Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
3-16
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
No boarders
Day fees
Check school fees page
Scholarships and bursaries
Check school site
Entrance details
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
Admissions note
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.

Oversubscription and eligibility

Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.

Exam and test format

Entrance route and assessment

Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.

Assessment route
Apply direct to school

Application

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply direct to the school

    Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

    Check school admissions

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
38.8 Attainment 8
GCSE results
75% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?
62.5% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?
3.46 EBacc APS

Inspection

All standards Met

Latest inspection: 1 October 2024

Quality of education
2
Behaviour and attitudes
1
Personal development
2
Leadership and management
2

Quick summary

  • Ofsted inspection outcome: Ofsted's latest independent school standard inspection began on 2024-10-01. The reported outcome is: All standards Met.
  • Ofsted safeguarding: The Ofsted dataset records safeguarding as: Yes.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does St Wilfrid's School handle admissions?

St Wilfrid's School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to St Wilfrid's School?

1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

When are the key dates for St Wilfrid's School?

Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.

What does the latest inspection picture look like for St Wilfrid's School?

St Wilfrid's School is currently rated All standards Met following the latest published inspection dated 1 October 2024.