Stowford School Review 2026: High-performing Ivybridge primary with a strong early years offer

Expectations are explicit and generally consistent. Staff are trained to present key knowledge clearly and to use recap and questioning to check what pupils remember, which suits families who value structured teaching.

Reading is a particular strength. Phonics and early reading are taught precisely from the start of school, with timely additional support when a pupil needs it. The intent is that pupils read confidently and use reading across the curriculum, rather than treating it as a separate subject.

Curriculum development is not identical across all subjects. Some areas are more mature than others, so parents of highly academic pupils may want to ask how subject sequencing and assessment are being tightened in the less-developed subjects.

Most pupils are likely to transfer to local secondary provision in Ivybridge and the wider South Hams area, with Ivybridge Community College a common destination for families in the town. Transition activity is referenced through communications about open evenings and transition meetings, which is typical of a well-organised Year 6 handover.

The school also runs a broad personal development programme, including responsibilities such as eco-council work and opportunities outside the classroom that connect learning to local context (for example, visits linked to engineering and outdoor navigation).

Stowford is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Entry to Reception is coordinated through Devon’s admissions process rather than directly through the school.

Reception (September 2026 entry)

• Applications open 15 November 2025

• Applications close 15 January 2026

• Offer day is typically mid-April, with the school’s published admissions policy referencing 16 April 2026 as the allocation date for Reception.

Demand looks healthy. Recent admissions data shows 90 applications for 60 offers, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed, roughly 1.5 applications per place.

Nursery admissions are handled separately from Reception, with application documents provided via the school’s nursery section. Nursery session times run 09:00 to 12:00 and 12:00 to 15:00, with wraparound options before and after.

If you are weighing proximity and realistic chances, FindMySchool’s map tools are useful for checking your home-to-school distance precisely. Stowford’s published results does not include a “furthest distance at which a place was offered” figure here, so it is sensible to treat distance-based assumptions cautiously.

The tone is purposeful and supportive rather than permissive. Pupils are expected to behave well, and staff actively guide pupils towards good choices.

Pastoral support begins early. Early years staff focus on routines, independence, and relationships, while pupils with special educational needs and disabilities benefit from coordinated work between staff and external agencies.

The latest Ofsted inspection on 20 and 21 June 2023 confirmed the school continues to be Good.

Ofsted also judged safeguarding arrangements to be effective.

Outdoor learning is given a distinctive identity through Wild Tribe, an outdoor education approach that uses the school’s outdoor spaces as part of everyday teaching practice, with occasional full Wild Tribe days across the year.

Music has a visible profile. Stowford Choir has a documented track record of external performance, including winning BBC Radio Devon’s “Star for Christmas” (large school category) and performing at Buckfast Abbey.

Sport is a major pillar, with breadth and competitive opportunity. The school has achieved the School Games Gold Mark again, and the sporting successes section records activities including cross country, indoor athletics, netball tournaments, football tournaments, and Junior Field Gun teams competing on Plymouth Hoe for Armed Forces Day.

The compulsory school day starts at 08:45 and finishes 15:15 (Foundation and Year 1) or 15:20 (Years 2 to 6), with registration at 08:55 and registers closing at 09:15.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Early Birds runs from 08:00 to the start of the school or nursery session, and Roosters runs from the end of the session up to 17:45. Published session pricing (effective from September 2025) starts at £5.00 for Early Birds and varies by finish time and age phase.

For travel, the school sits on Exeter Road in Ivybridge. Ivybridge railway station is nearby, and road access links naturally to the A38 corridor.

The school also notes a safety measure restricting vehicle movement on the access road during peak drop-off and collection windows.

• Oversubscription pressure. With 90 applications for 60 offers admission can be competitive for Reception, and families should plan with realistic contingencies.

• Curriculum consistency. Some subjects are further developed than others, so it is worth asking how leaders are improving sequencing, knowledge checks, and teacher training in the less-developed areas.

• Leadership transition since the last inspection. The most recent inspection predates the current headteacher, so parents may want to ask how priorities and systems have evolved since September 2024.

• Wraparound costs can add up. Early Birds and Roosters are well specified, but regular use is a meaningful monthly expense for some families.

Stowford School combines a high-expectations culture with strong outcomes and a properly thought-through early years pathway. Outdoor learning through Wild Tribe, music through choir, and a competitive sporting calendar give the school a distinctive profile beyond the core curriculum.

Best suited to families who want a structured, values-led primary where academic standards are demonstrably high, and who are comfortable navigating oversubscribed admissions in the Ivybridge area.