Instow Community Primary School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · North Devon
Instow Community Primary School holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the school kitchen that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Instow Community Primary School was inspected on 14 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 2% of rated food businesses in North Devon score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all North Devon ratings →
Address: Instow, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4LU
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near Instow Community Primary School
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How this rating has changed
Instow Community Primary School has gone backwards: it held a 5 before its inspection on 14 July 2026, and now holds a 2. A rating of 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 14 July 2026 | 5 2 | Worse |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in North Devon
A 2 is rare: only 14 of 1,320 rated places in North Devon score this low, about one in 94. By contrast 84% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,105 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 136 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 44 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ← Instow Community Primary School | |
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 162 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Instow Community Primary School the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Instow Community Primary School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instow Barton Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2015 |
| The Glorious Oyster Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 16 May 2025 |
| The Wayfarer Inn Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 26 March 2025 |
| The Boathouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| The Instow Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Commodore Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| Sandbanks Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 5 August 2026 |
| Instow Parish Hall Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | Awaiting inspection |
Questions about Instow Community Primary School
What is Instow Community Primary School's food hygiene rating?
Instow Community Primary School has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by North Devon Council on 14 July 2026.
Is Instow Community Primary School safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The school kitchen is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Instow Community Primary School last inspected?
Instow Community Primary School was last inspected on 14 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Instow Community Primary School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Instow Community Primary School compare to other places in North Devon?
84% of the 1,320 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, while Instow Community Primary School holds a 2. 14 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects Instow Community Primary School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Instow Community Primary School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at North Devon, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: North Devon
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Instow Community Primary School is one of 20 rated food businesses in Bideford. See every hygiene rating in Bideford →
North Devon inspects and rates 1,482 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northdevon.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →