Stokeinteignhead School Review 2026: Small village primary with strong KS2 outcomes

There is a particular confidence that comes with being a small school in a settled village. With around 105 places overall, Stokeinteignhead School tends to feel personal, with staff able to track pupils closely and intervene early when learning wobbles. The values framework is explicit and practical, built around four core attributes: respectful, determined, curious and resourceful.

Academically, the 2024 Key Stage 2 picture is a strong one. 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 33.67% achieved the higher threshold, compared with an England average of 8%.

For parents weighing up fit, the headline is this: a small, values-led primary that pairs a reading-centred culture with consistently high attainment measures, while keeping the practicalities of wraparound care firmly in view.

The school’s ethos is unusually clear, and that clarity shows up in behaviour expectations. Respectful is defined as manners, tolerance, thoughtfulness and care for belongings, while determined is framed as self-belief, focus and motivation. Curious is linked to questioning and noticing, and resourceful to independence and initiative. It is a practical vocabulary that pupils can understand and adults can reinforce consistently.

The latest inspection paints a calm, secure atmosphere, where bullying is described as very rare and pupils trust adults to help resolve difficulties. That matters in a small setting, because peer relationships are repeated across years and classes. A small cohort works best when the social culture is actively guided, not left to chance.

There is also a wider-world thread running through school life. The inspection notes the use of “cultural champions”, visitors who share different perspectives with pupils. In practice, that kind of structured exposure can be especially valuable in a village context, because it broadens pupils’ reference points without relying on families to source those experiences independently.

Leadership is organised through an executive headteacher model, alongside a head of school who also holds safeguarding and SEND leadership responsibilities. Current staffing lists Martin Harding and Marcus West as executive heads, with Jo Crathorne as head of school (also deputy designated safeguarding lead and SENCO).

Stokeinteignhead’s 2024 KS2 outcomes are comfortably above England averages across the main attainment markers.

• Expected standard (reading, writing and maths combined): 80%, compared with an England average of 62%.

• Higher standard (reading, writing and maths): 33.67%, compared with an England average of 8%.

• Average scaled scores: Reading 107, maths 108, grammar, punctuation and spelling 108 (scaled scores are standardised, with 100 as the reference point).

• Science expected standard: 87%, compared with an England average of 82%.

These figures suggest a school that is not just lifting pupils over the expected line, but producing a sizeable group working at greater depth, particularly in the core KS2 measures.

Rankings provide a second lens. Stokeinteignhead is ranked 2,413rd in England for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), and 2nd locally in the Newton Abbot area, placing it above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England by this measure.

A useful implication for parents is about resilience: in small cohorts, one or two pupils can move percentages sharply year to year. Even so, the combination of high expected-standard attainment plus a large higher-standard share points to underlying strength in teaching sequences and consolidation, not just a one-off spike.

Parents comparing several local schools should use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tools to view KS2 outcomes side by side, rather than relying on reputation alone.

Reading is treated as an organising principle, not simply one subject among many. The inspection notes that pupils learn to read quickly and that reading remains at the heart of the curriculum throughout their time at the school. Daily time is set aside in every class for adults to read with pupils, building vocabulary and knowledge of the world through texts.

Curriculum design is described as deliberate and ambitious, with subject content set out carefully and supported by reading that deepens knowledge in each subject. That matters for a small primary because subject leadership capacity can be thin in tiny teams. Here, the external picture is that leaders have put thought into sequencing and that subject reflection and feedback cycles are active.

The key development point flagged is sharply focused reading catch-up. Most pupils become accurate readers quickly, but a small number need extra support, and the recommendation is to tighten the focus on specific phonics gaps and ensure pupils have enough opportunities to apply their phonics knowledge. For parents, this is less a red flag and more a reminder to ask practical questions: how is reading intervention delivered, how often, and how are pupils moved off support once gaps close.

SEND support is described as comprehensive, with teaching staff advised well by expert leaders, and pupils with SEND doing well. That is important in a mainstream school with a small roll, because children with additional needs need support that is woven into daily classroom life, not bolted on as occasional help.

As a Devon state primary, secondary transfer is handled through the local authority coordinated admissions process, and the specific “next school” varies by home address and parental preference. For families who want certainty, the practical step is to check the local authority’s current admissions guidance for linked or usual secondary routes, then compare realistic travel patterns.

What Stokeinteignhead can control is readiness. The reading-centred curriculum, daily adult reading time and strong attainment profile imply pupils leave Year 6 with secure foundations. A high higher-standard share at KS2 also suggests that stretch and depth are part of the culture, which can make transition to a larger secondary feel less daunting academically.

The school is a state primary with no tuition fees, and Reception entry is typically via Devon’s coordinated admissions route.

Demand, on the available admissions snapshot, is real but not extreme in raw numbers. For the primary entry route, there were 20 applications for 16 offers, meaning roughly 1.25 applications per place, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. In small rural schools, that kind of ratio can still translate into a tight margin, because a handful of extra applications quickly tips a cohort over capacity.

For September 2026 Reception entry, the school’s own calendar highlights the Reception application deadline as 15 January 2026. For families looking ahead, the pattern in Devon is that primary applications typically open mid November and close mid January each year; parents should rely on the local authority timetable for the exact dates for the next cycle.

Open events are best treated as seasonal. The school website routinely lists events such as parent workshops and curriculum-linked trips, which suggests there is an established rhythm of parent engagement. If you are planning a visit, check the school’s latest calendar listing and book as required.

Parents considering a move should use FindMySchoolMap Search to measure their distance precisely and sanity-check local alternatives, especially since the last-distance allocation figure is not published here.

Safeguarding is described as effective, with a strong culture, clear processes, and staff training that supports vigilant reporting. Leaders are noted as proactive in using early help to support children and families, and record keeping is described as clear and detailed.

Day-to-day wellbeing also shows up in how the school handles behaviour and belonging. Leaders are described as adapting both curriculum and behaviour systems to support pupils who sometimes find it difficult to meet expectations, with improvement as a result. That is a useful sign for parents of children who may need more structure and coaching in self-regulation.

Speech, language and communication needs are flagged as an area leaders have seen increase, with early identification and timely support starting in Reception. In a small primary, this can be a major differentiator, because early language support often prevents later literacy difficulties.

The inspection notes that clubs and activities are shaped around pupils’ interests, and that leaders actively encourage vulnerable pupils into activities likely to benefit them. That intent matters, because the risk in small schools is that extracurriculars become “whoever turns up”. Here, the goal is inclusion with a purpose.

The school calendar gives concrete examples of the enrichment mix. Recent listings include Young Voices at the NEC Birmingham, a large-scale singing project that typically involves significant rehearsal, stamina and teamwork, plus scheduled Eco Workshops and a Spelling Workshop for Parents. The through-line is curriculum support (spelling), broader experience (Young Voices), and values-led responsibility (eco activity).

Pupil leadership has also been part of the culture. Earlier inspection evidence references school council activity and eco-councillors as a route to understanding democratic processes. In a small school, those roles can carry real weight because pupils see tangible impact, not just a badge.

School opening times are published as 08:50 to 15:10.

Wraparound care is a clear practical strength. Breakfast Club runs daily from 07:40 to the start of the school day, and After School Club runs on site until 18:00 Monday to Thursday and 17:00 on Friday, starting immediately after school at 15:10. (Session charges are published; families should confirm current pricing and booking arrangements directly.)

The setting is described as a rural village location near the River Teign estuary and the South Devon coastline. That can mean a drive-led school run for many families, so it is worth pressure-testing morning travel time, especially if you intend to rely on wraparound care regularly.

• Small-cohort volatility. With a total capacity around 105, year groups are small, and headline percentages can shift noticeably as cohorts change. Use a few years of data where possible and ask how the school supports consistency.

• Oversubscription still matters at this scale. The ratio of 20 applications to 16 offers indicates competition, even if the absolute numbers are modest. If you are planning a move, check the local authority criteria early.

• Reading intervention is a key question. The main improvement focus in the latest inspection is sharply targeted support for the few pupils who need extra help applying phonics knowledge. Ask how the school identifies gaps and how progress is tracked.

• Rural logistics. A village school can be a great fit, but transport and wraparound routines become central to family life. Make sure your daily travel plan works in winter as well as summer.

Stokeinteignhead School offers a distinctive mix: small-school closeness, a well-defined values language, and KS2 attainment that sits well above England averages. The reading-led approach and structured curriculum thinking support that academic picture, while wraparound care is clearly set out for working families.

Who it suits: families who want a village primary with a strong academic core, clear behaviour expectations, and reliable before and after school provision. The main challenge is getting the admissions details right early, because in small cohorts the margin between “place offered” and “no place” can be narrow.