East Allington Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining village primary with strong values and outdoor learning

At drop-off, the tone is purposeful and calm, with a clear emphasis on kindness and responsibility. The school’s A, B, C values, Active, Bold and Caring, show up in day-to-day routines and in how pupils talk about fairness and children’s rights.

Academically, the 2024 Key Stage 2 picture is very strong. Nearly 90% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. Reading and maths scaled scores also sit comfortably above typical benchmarks, and the school’s outcomes place it within the top 25% of primary schools in England on FindMySchool’s rankings. (FindMySchool rankings are proprietary and based on official data.)

The size is a defining feature. With around 95 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105, families should expect a close-knit feel, and often mixed-age teaching in parts of the school.

This is a school that leans into community. The most recent inspection describes pupils with a strong sense of belonging, and highlights positive relationships between staff and pupils. That same culture is reflected in structured pupil roles, including peer mediators and a pupil steering group, which gives pupils a practical route to shape decisions rather than simply being consulted.

The rights-respecting focus matters here because it is not treated as a poster exercise. Pupils are encouraged to speak about fairness, difference, and responsibility, and it feeds into expectations for behaviour. The inspection also points to a calm, purposeful feel where pupils know who to approach if something worries them.

Leadership is currently anchored by Liam Fielding, listed by the school as Headteacher, and by the trust as Executive Headteacher across East Allington Primary School and Blackawton Primary School from 2025.

The headline indicator for most parents is the combined reading, writing and maths measure at the end of Year 6. In 2024, 89.67% of pupils met the expected standard, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 28.33% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%.

The underlying subject detail supports the top-line story:

• Reading: average scaled score 110; 92% at the expected standard; 62% at a high score.

• Maths: average scaled score 106; 92% at the expected standard; 15% at a high score.

• GPS (grammar, punctuation and spelling): average scaled score 106; 85% at the expected standard; 23% at a high score.

• Science: 85% meeting the expected standard, above the England average of 82%.

In rankings terms, East Allington Primary School is ranked 2,699th in England for primary outcomes, and 4th in South Hams (FindMySchool ranking). This reflects performance that sits above England average, comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

A practical interpretation for families is that the school appears to secure strong basics for most pupils, not just a narrow top group. The high combined expected-standard figure suggests consistent delivery across cohorts, which is especially relevant in a smaller primary where year-to-year variation can sometimes be more visible.

Teaching priorities are well signposted. Reading is treated as a whole-school focus, with staff training and monitoring built into routines. Maths is similarly structured, with regular checking of understanding and quick identification of misconceptions described in official reporting.

Curriculum thinking is joined up, particularly in early years and Key Stage 1. One example described formally is how early science learning begins with practical outdoor activities, then links forward into later work on plants. That sequencing matters because it reduces the “topic of the week” feel that can sometimes dilute knowledge-building in primary settings.

Languages also feature as a point of intent. French was included as one of the deep-dive areas in the most recent inspection, which is a useful signal that it is treated as a taught subject rather than an occasional add-on.

For most families, the key question is transition into Year 7. Devon’s school information listing for East Allington Primary School identifies Kingsbridge Academy as the feeder secondary school.

Within the school’s own work, preparation for transition is framed as independence, responsibility, and routines, which is sensible in a small setting where pupils often hold leadership roles by Year 6. Practical transition support is likely to include the standard Devon pattern of liaison between Year 6 staff and receiving secondary teams, plus familiarisation activities later in the summer term.

Families considering a move should still check Devon’s designated-area guidance for their address, because secondary planning is ultimately shaped by admissions criteria and local demand, not by a “feeder” label alone.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated through Devon County Council. For September 2026 entry, the application window opens on 15 November 2025 and closes on 15 January 2026, with offer day on 16 April 2026.

Demand, based on the most recent dataset here, looks steady rather than extreme. The Reception entry route shows 5 applications for 4 offers, which is a subscription ratio of 1.25 applications per place, and is recorded as oversubscribed. In a small school, even slight shifts in local birth rates or house moves can change that picture quickly from year to year.

If you are weighing up proximity and probability, it is worth using the FindMySchool Map Search to check your exact distance alongside recent allocation patterns, then treating it as guidance rather than a guarantee.

A small roll often supports strong pastoral visibility, and formal reporting emphasises close staff-pupil relationships and a culture where pupils feel safe and cared for. A structured peer-mediator approach is also referenced, which tends to work best in primaries where adults actively teach and reinforce how to resolve low-level friendship issues before they escalate.

Safeguarding is treated as a whole-school responsibility, and this is one area where parents generally want a clear, unambiguous signal. The latest Ofsted inspection (22 and 23 March 2023, published 17 May 2023) judged the school Good across all areas and confirmed safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Support for pupils with additional needs is described as well-matched to identified barriers, with staff understanding individual needs and adapting learning accordingly.

Outdoor learning is not occasional here. The school states that every child has a Forest School session each week, using hands-on tasks to build confidence and decision-making. In a rural setting, that is a meaningful advantage because it turns the local environment into planned curriculum time rather than simply a backdrop.

Pupil leadership is a second pillar. The inspection references eco-warriors, peer mediators, and a pupil steering group, plus a fundraising link to a partner school in Malawi. These are specific roles and projects that give pupils tangible responsibility, which often helps quieter children develop confidence without needing to be the loudest voice in the room.

Reading practice also extends beyond lessons. The school references Accelerated Reader, and class pages indicate structured home learning patterns such as SPARX multiplications in upper years, which gives families a clearer sense of what “practice at home” may look like week to week.

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:15pm, with a morning break and a one-hour lunch.

Wraparound care is available in two parts. An early morning club runs from 8:00am each school day with breakfast and games, priced at £2 per session, and after-school club runs until 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, priced at £6 per session.

Lunch arrangements are also clearly explained. A school meal is priced at £3.00 for pupils in Year 3 and above, while Reception to Year 2 pupils are eligible for universal infant free school meals.

• Small-school dynamics. With a roll of around 95 pupils, year groups may feel tight socially, and mixed-age teaching can be part of the structure. This suits many children well, but families seeking a large peer group for every year may prefer a bigger primary.

• Wraparound limits. After-school club runs to 5:00pm and does not operate on Fridays. Families needing later care, or five days a week, should plan alternatives early.

• Admissions can swing. The recorded subscription ratio is modest, but in a small village school, a handful of additional applications can materially change cut-offs in a given year.

• Early years logistics. Devon lists early years provision as a school-run pre-school and indicates it is not on the school site, which may affect drop-off and pick-up planning for families with younger children.

East Allington Primary School combines strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with a clear values framework, practical pupil responsibility, and genuinely embedded outdoor learning. The scale is part of the appeal, it supports close relationships and leadership opportunities from an early age. It best suits families who want a village primary with high expectations, a strong reading culture, and weekly Forest School, and who are comfortable planning around wraparound hours and the realities of a smaller cohort.