Marldon Church of England Primary School Review 2026: A small village primary with standout KS2 outcomes

A Church of England voluntary aided primary in Marldon, this is a compact school with a clear sense of purpose and unusually strong Key Stage 2 outcomes for a village setting. In 2024, 90.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. The higher standard rate is also striking at 33.33% versus 8% in England.

The school’s wider offer leans heavily into confidence, communication and wellbeing. The website highlights a communication-friendly approach and a Silver Rights Respecting status, and the curriculum is reinforced by structured enrichment, from residentials (Years 2 and 6) to adventurous activities such as caving, climbing and scuba diving.

Leadership is shared across a federation structure, with Jon Arnold listed as Head of School and Martin Harding as Executive Headteacher.

Marldon’s identity is explicitly Church of England, with Christian values presented as a lived framework rather than a bolt-on. The school’s published values include friendship, perseverance, justice, compassion and courage, and the site roots its ethos in a clear Christian message about love and service.

A notable feature is the way pupil voice is built into daily life. The school describes Rights Respecting ambassadors, and the most recent inspection narrative references pupil leadership roles such as mental health ambassadors and play leaders. The implication for families is a culture where children are expected to contribute, not just comply, which often suits pupils who respond well to responsibility and clear routines.

There is also a distinctive “small school, broad horizons” thread running through what the school chooses to publicise. You see it in the emphasis on vocabulary and talk, in the stated commitment to emotional awareness through the MindUp approach, and in the repeated references to enrichment beyond the classroom. For some children, that blend of nurture, ambition and outward-looking trips can be the difference between simply doing well and genuinely enjoying learning.

Results are a central strength here, and the 2024 Key Stage 2 picture is unusually strong for a small primary.

• Expected standard (reading, writing and mathematics combined): 90.67% (England average: 62%).

• Higher standard (reading, writing and mathematics): 33.33% (England average: 8%).

• Reading expected standard: 94%.

• Mathematics expected standard: 84%.

• GPS expected standard: 84%.

• Science expected standard: 90%.

• Scaled scores (2024): Reading 107, Maths 108, GPS 107.

On FindMySchool’s rankings (based on official outcomes data), the school is ranked 2,634th in England and 1st in Paignton for primary outcomes. This places performance above the England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

These numbers suggest two things for parents. First, teaching is not just helping pupils meet the expected bar, it is also moving a meaningful share into higher standard. Second, outcomes look consistent across the core academic domains rather than being driven by a single subject spike.

The most recent inspection report describes an ambitious curriculum designed to deepen learning from early years through Year 6, with strong consistency between classes and a significant focus on writing. The practical implication is a school that values coherence, with pupils expected to build knowledge carefully over time rather than treating topics as one-off projects.

Marldon’s own public-facing messages reinforce that focus on language and communication. The website talks about direct vocabulary teaching based on key texts and creating a language-rich culture. In a primary context, that typically shows up in clearer sentence construction, stronger comprehension, and more confident spoken contributions in class, all of which feed directly into KS2 writing and reading outcomes.

Music is unusually well-specified for a primary. A published Music Development Plan sets out a structured programme using Charanga, with classroom instrumental teaching across the school and WCET Samba drums in Years 3 to 6. Reception and Year 1 use glockenspiels, while Year 2 includes recorders. This matters because it indicates planned progression, not “music when we can fit it in”, and it gives children repeated performance and ensemble experiences as they move through the school.

For a primary, the transition story is partly about practical destination patterns and partly about readiness for the next stage. The school’s transition material references local secondary options including KEVICC, Churston and Cuthbert Mayne, alongside structured transition support such as Year 6 visits and contact with Year 7 pupils.

What matters most is the “how”, not just the “where”. The most recent inspection report highlights a strong emphasis on pupils’ wider development and emotional readiness, and it specifically frames this as preparation for the next stage. If your child benefits from predictable routines and explicit teaching of behaviour expectations, that kind of approach can make Year 7 feel more manageable.

This is a state-funded school with no tuition fees, but it is not “easy to get into” on the numbers available. For Reception entry, the school is recorded as oversubscribed, with 71 applications for 29 offers, which is around 2.45 applications per place.

As a voluntary aided Church of England school, admissions are coordinated through Devon’s schemes, and the school notes it may request a Supplementary Information Form or church evidence where faith-based priority applies. For families considering an application, it is worth reading the current admissions policy carefully and being realistic about the strength of demand.

For September 2026 entry (Devon normal round), Devon’s published guidance indicates applications open on 15 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

A practical tip: if you are weighing multiple local primaries, the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison view helps you benchmark outcomes side by side using the same metrics, which can clarify whether Marldon’s performance is an outlier locally or part of a broader cluster.

Wellbeing is positioned as a deliberate strand of school life, not a reactive add-on. The website states the school follows the MindUp approach, and federation documentation and strategy statements reference embedding it across classes and staff development.

Support is also described through staffing and structure. The staff list includes a named school counsellor, and the counsellor profile notes that Julie Sandover works across the federation and is available at Marldon on Tuesday afternoons. For families, that is a concrete indicator that pastoral support includes access to a specialist role rather than relying solely on class staff capacity.

Ofsted also states that safeguarding arrangements are effective and that pupils’ online safety knowledge is particularly strong, which is increasingly important as primary pupils use school devices and online platforms earlier.

This school makes a point of offering experiences that feel larger than its size. The website mentions residential visits in Years 2 and 6, plus adventurous activities including caving, climbing and scuba diving. The implication is a conscious attempt to widen horizons, particularly valuable in a small village setting where children may not otherwise encounter those activities through school.

Music is a standout pillar. The Music Development Plan specifies a Key Stage 2 choir, whole-school singing linked to worship, and performance opportunities including events connected to Marldon Church and wider local music activity. Instrumental learning is not limited to one year group, with Samba drums as a recurring ensemble experience and pathways into peripatetic tuition for guitar, ukulele, piano, saxophone and drums.

Sports and community links also appear in the school’s recent communications. A 2025 newsletter references sessions with Torbay Tigers Basketball Club and Paignton Rugby club, suggesting external coaching or partnership activity that supplements what staff can offer alone.

The published school day runs from 09:00 to 15:30 (32 hours 30 minutes per week).

Wraparound care: the most recent inspection report references a before-school childcare offer called Early Birds, run by the governing body. Details of after-school provision are not consistently published in a single place, so families who need late pickup should ask the school directly about current arrangements and availability.

Travel: Marldon is a village setting near Paignton, so school-run patterns are likely to be a mix of walking for nearby families and car drop-off for those coming from further afield. If you are relying on a specific route, check local bus timetables and journey times during peak school-run periods.

• High demand for places. With 71 applications for 29 offers on the latest available Reception admissions figures, competition is real. Families should plan early and keep alternative options in mind.

• Faith-based admissions may matter. As a voluntary aided Church of England school, some oversubscription criteria can relate to church or faith grounds, and this can shape priority order in oversubscribed years.

• Inspection outcome is maintenance, not a new grade. The latest inspection is an ungraded inspection focused on whether standards have been maintained, so parents should read the narrative carefully rather than looking for a fresh headline judgement.

• Small-school dynamics. A 210-place capacity can feel reassuringly knowable, but it can also mean fewer peer-group options within a year group. For children who need a wide social mix, that is worth weighing.

Marldon Church of England Primary School combines a clear values-led identity with KS2 outcomes that stand out, including a much higher-than-average proportion reaching both expected and higher standards. It also offers unusually well-defined music provision and enrichment for a school of its size.

Who it suits: families who want a village primary with strong academic outcomes, a Christian ethos, and structured opportunities for confidence-building through pupil roles, music and trips. The main challenge is admission demand, so shortlisting should be pragmatic as well as aspirational.