What schools serve Exeter?

There are 84 schools in Exeter, Devon, including Chestnut Nursery School - Exeter Nursery Schools Federation, Clyst St Mary Primary School, Montgomery Primary School, Stoke Hill Infant and Nursery School, Stoke Hill Junior School and more. You can view each school's catchment area guidance and admissions policy on catchment.school.

How many primary and secondary schools are in Exeter?

Exeter has 53 primary schools and 6 secondary schools. There are also 25 other schools (such as all-through or special schools) in the area. All data is sourced from the Department for Education's GIAS register.

How do I find out if my address is in a school's catchment area in Exeter?

To check whether your address falls within a school's catchment area in Exeter, use the postcode search tool at catchment.school. Catchment area boundaries for Exeter schools are set by Devon and reviewed each year. You can also consult the school's admissions policy or contact the Devon admissions team directly for the most up-to-date boundary maps.

Who sets catchment area boundaries for schools in Exeter?

Catchment area boundaries for schools in Exeter are set by Devon as the admissions authority. Community and voluntary-controlled schools follow the council's published admissions policy, while academies and voluntary-aided schools may set their own. Boundaries are reviewed annually and published each September for the following academic year.

Schools in Exeter

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Exeter has 84 schools including 53 primaries and 6 secondary schools, coordinated by Devon County Council. Exeter is Devon's county city and a fast-growing university city - new residential developments in Cranbrook and Pinhoe have driven steady demand for primary places, with several schools in the city centre regularly oversubscribed in the first two or three kilometre bands.

Secondary provision in Exeter includes a mix of community, faith and academy schools. Exeter School (independent) dominates fee-paying education, but the state secondary sector covers the city well. Devon coordinates all state secondary admissions; families in newer estates should check catchment maps carefully as boundaries have shifted with new school openings in recent years.

School demand in Exeter

Across the 76 schools in Exeter with published capacity data, the average fill rate is 88%. 22 of them are currently at or above their published admission number, and at those schools catchment distance is likely to decide places at the next intake.

22 schools in Exeter have a religious character, so faith criteria sit alongside catchment distance in their admissions policies.

43 of the schools in Exeter are academies that set their own admissions criteria independently of Devon, so check each school's policy directly rather than assuming the council default applies.

29 of the schools in Exeter have a current Ofsted rating, of which 19 are rated Good or Outstanding. Demand and catchment distance tend to be tightest at the highest-rated schools.

Primary schools in Exeter: 16 oversubscribed (53)

Clyst St Mary Primary School

Primary · Community school

Exeter · EX5 1BG

Ages 4-11 185 pupils Capacity 210

Montgomery Primary School

Primary · Foundation school

Exeter · EX4 1BS

Ages 2-11 442 pupils Capacity 420

Stoke Hill Infant and Nursery School

Primary · Community school

Exeter · EX4 7DB

Ages 3-7 297 pupils Capacity 270

Stoke Hill Junior School

Primary · Community school

Exeter · EX4 7DP

Ages 7-11 346 pupils Capacity 360

Newton St Cyres Primary School

Primary · Community school

Exeter · EX5 5DL

Ages 2-11 134 pupils Capacity 110

Whimple Primary School

Primary · Community school

Exeter · EX5 2TS

Ages 4-11 131 pupils Capacity 140

Doddiscombsleigh Primary School

Primary · Foundation school

Exeter · EX6 7PR

Ages 4-11 23 pupils Capacity 70

Exminster Community Primary

Primary · Community school

Exeter · EX6 8AJ

Ages 4-11 391 pupils Capacity 420

Brampford Speke Church of England Primary School

Primary · Voluntary controlled school

Exeter · EX5 5HE

Ages 2-11 54 pupils Capacity 80

Payhembury Church of England Primary School

Primary · Voluntary controlled school

Exeter · EX14 3HT

Ages 4-11 100 pupils Capacity 105

Silverton Church of England Primary School

Primary · Voluntary controlled school

Exeter · EX5 4JY

Ages 2-11 106 pupils Capacity 140

Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School and Pre-School

Primary · Voluntary controlled school

Exeter · EX5 4AS

Ages 2-11 90 pupils Capacity 156

Thorverton Church of England Primary School

Primary · Voluntary controlled school

Exeter · EX5 5NR

Ages 4-11 109 pupils Capacity 75

Woodbury Church of England Primary School

Primary · Voluntary aided school

Exeter · EX5 1EA

Ages 4-11 193 pupils Capacity 210

Pinhoe Church of England Primary School & Nursery

Primary · Voluntary aided school

Exeter · EX4 8PE

Ages 2-11 494 pupils Capacity 470

The Topsham School

Primary · Community school

Exeter · EX3 0DN

Ages 3-11 196 pupils Capacity 210

Broadclyst Community Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX5 3JG

Ages 2-11 513 pupils Capacity 420

Lady Seaward's Church of England Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX3 0RE

Ages 2-11 99 pupils Capacity 105

Christow Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX6 7PE

Ages 2-11 94 pupils Capacity 120

Woodwater Academy

Primary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX2 5AW

Ages 3-11 344 pupils Capacity 380

St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

Primary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX1 3EG

Ages 3-11 326 pupils Capacity 327

St Michael's Church of England Primary Academy

Primary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX1 2SN

Ages 5-11 419 pupils Capacity 420

The Duchy School Bradninch

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX5 4RF

Ages 4-11 202 pupils Capacity 210

St David's CofE Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX4 4EE

Ages 5-11 96 pupils Capacity 105

St Leonard's (CofE) Primary School (VC)

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX2 4NQ

Ages 5-11 611 pupils Capacity 630

St Gabriel's CofE Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX4 2BY

Ages 2-11 195 pupils Capacity 210

Westclyst Community Primary School

Primary · Free schools

Exeter · EX1 3YG

Ages 2-11 540 pupils

Alphington Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX2 8RQ

Ages 2-11 459 pupils Capacity 424

Ide Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX2 9RN

Ages 2-11 146 pupils Capacity 140

St Thomas Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX2 9BB

Ages 5-11 193 pupils Capacity 208

Bowhill Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX4 1JT

Ages 5-11 464 pupils Capacity 525

Exwick Heights Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX4 2FB

Ages 2-11 540 pupils Capacity 630

Rockbeare Church of England Primary School and Pre-School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX5 2EQ

Ages 3-11 130 pupils Capacity 120

Tedburn St Mary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX6 6AA

Ages 4-11 90 pupils Capacity 91

Dunsford Community Academy

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX6 7DD

Ages 2-11 99 pupils Capacity 84

Cheriton Bishop Community Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX6 6HY

Ages 2-11 115 pupils Capacity 70

Kenton Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX6 8JT

Ages 2-11 53 pupils Capacity 105

Cockwood Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX6 8RB

Ages 4-11 83 pupils Capacity 84

Kenn Church of England Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX6 7TX

Ages 4-11 93 pupils Capacity 105

Whipton Barton Junior School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX1 3JP

Ages 7-11 219 pupils Capacity 360

Whipton Barton Infants and Nursery School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX1 3JP

Ages 2-7 222 pupils Capacity 270

Monkerton Community Primary School

Primary · Free schools

Exeter · EX1 3WS

Ages 2-11 411 pupils Capacity 480

St Sidwell's Church of England Primary School & Nursery

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX4 6PG

Ages 3-11 219 pupils Capacity 210

Newtown Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX1 2BP

Ages 4-11 133 pupils Capacity 210

Wynstream Primary School Academy

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX2 6AY

Ages 4-11 325 pupils Capacity 420

Trinity CofE Primary and Nursery School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX2 7TR

Ages 2-11 455 pupils Capacity 420

Countess Wear Primary School

Primary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX2 7BS

Ages 2-11 201 pupils Capacity 405

Willowbrook School

Primary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX4 8NN

Ages 3-11 449 pupils Capacity 420

Clyst Heath Nursery and Community Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX2 7QT

Ages 3-11 332 pupils Capacity 315

Woodbury Salterton Church of England Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX5 1PP

Ages 2-11 48 pupils Capacity 105

St Martin's CofE Primary & Nursery School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX5 7DT

Ages 2-11 468 pupils Capacity 446

Ladysmith Infant & Nursery School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX1 2PS

Ages 3-7 297 pupils Capacity 350

Ladysmith Junior School

Primary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX1 2PT

Ages 7-11 346 pupils Capacity 360

Secondary Schools in Exeter (6)

St Peter's Church of England Aided School

Secondary · Voluntary aided school

Exeter · EX2 5AP

Ages 11-16 1305 pupils Capacity 1305

Clyst Vale Community College

Secondary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX5 3AJ

Ages 11-18 936 pupils Capacity 1124

Isca Academy

Secondary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX2 6AP

Ages 11-16 914 pupils Capacity 950

St James School

Secondary · Academy converter

Exeter · EX4 8NN

Ages 11-16 989 pupils Capacity 980

West Exe School

Secondary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX2 9JU

Ages 11-16 1237 pupils Capacity 1300

St Luke's Church of England School

Secondary · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX1 3RD

Ages 11-16 853 pupils Capacity 980

Other Schools in Exeter (25)

Chestnut Nursery School - Exeter Nursery Schools Federation

Nursery · Local authority nursery school

Exeter · EX2 6DJ

Ages 2-5 62 pupils

Exeter Cathedral School

Not applicable · Other independent school

Exeter · EX1 1HX

Ages 3-13 176 pupils Capacity 300

St Wilfrid's School

Not applicable · Other independent school

Exeter · EX4 4DA

Ages 3-16 41 pupils Capacity 125

Vranch House School

Not applicable · Other independent special school

Exeter · EX4 8AD

Ages 2-19 59 pupils Capacity 65

Exeter School

Not applicable · Other independent school

Exeter · EX2 4NS

Ages 6-19 956 pupils Capacity 1000

The Maynard School

Not applicable · Other independent school

Exeter · EX1 1SJ

Ages 4-19 425 pupils Capacity 484

Magdalen Court School

Not applicable · Other independent special school

Exeter · EX2 4NU

Ages 5-18 120 pupils Capacity 250

Exeter Pre-Prep School

Not applicable · Other independent school

Exeter · EX6 8AT

Ages 3-7 72 pupils Capacity 100

Ellen Tinkham School

Not applicable · Foundation special school

Exeter · EX1 3RW

Ages 3-19 236 pupils Capacity 220

Southbrook School

Not applicable · Foundation special school

Exeter · EX2 6JB

Ages 11-16 139 pupils Capacity 120

Barley Lane School

Not applicable · Foundation special school

Exeter · EX4 1TA

Ages 7-16 76 pupils Capacity 79

Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group

All through · Further education

Exeter · EX4 4JS

Ages 16-99

Infocus College

Not applicable · Special post 16 institution

Exeter · EX2 6HA

Ages 16-25 Capacity 56

Atkinson Secure Children's Home

Not applicable · Secure units

Exeter · EX2 4QD

Ages 10-17 Capacity 14

University of Exeter

Not applicable · Higher education institutions

Exeter · EX4 4QJ

West Exe Nursery School - Exeter Nursery Schools Federation

Nursery · Local authority nursery school

Exeter · EX4 1HL

Ages 2-5 148 pupils

Devon Hospitals' Short Stay School

Not applicable · Pupil referral unit

Exeter · EX2 5DW

Ages 5-16 0 Capacity 79

Exeter Mathematics School

All through · Free schools 16 to 19

Exeter · EX4 3PU

Ages 16-19 128 pupils Capacity 120

Cranbrook Education Campus

Special · Academy sponsor led

Exeter · EX5 7EE

Ages 2-16 1058 pupils Capacity 1020

Matford Brook Academy

Special · Free schools

Exeter · EX2 0BZ

Ages 2-16 163 pupils Capacity 370

The Outdoors School

Not applicable · Other independent special school

Exeter · EX2 9QQ

Ages 7-16 85 pupils Capacity 120

Stansfield Academy

Not applicable · Academy alternative provision sponsor led

Exeter · EX2 7LB

Ages 4-16 53 pupils Capacity 70

Torlands Academy

Not applicable · Academy alternative provision converter

Exeter · EX4 1PT

Ages 5-16 1 pupils Capacity 90

Belong School Devon

Not applicable · Other independent special school

Exeter · EX2 8PU

Ages 11-17 54 pupils Capacity 75

Thomas Hall School

Special · Free schools

Exeter · EX4 5AD

Ages 4-16 458 pupils Capacity 720

Catchment area boundaries for schools in Exeter are set by Devon and updated each year. The "last distance offered", how far the furthest successful applicant lived, changes annually based on the number of applications received.

Find Devon admissions documents → How catchment areas work →