Kings Ash Academy

Kings Ash Academy has made significant improvements since its previous inspection, achieving a 'Good' overall effectiveness rating. The school provides a strong quality of education, with a focus on reading and mathematics, aided by effective subject knowledge among teachers. The curriculum covers all required subjects, although some areas need better sequencing to enhance depth of knowledge for pupils. Behaviour is generally good, and pupils feel supported and safe, but there is a small occurrence of bullying that requires quicker staff response. The leadership is committed to community service and continues to develop staff through training.

Strengths

• Strong subject knowledge among teachers.
• Effective prioritization of physical development and health.
• Good focus on reading and mathematics.
• Successful implementation of staff training.
• Positive relationship with parents and carers.
• Effective nursery curriculum that supports early development.
• Strong support for pupils' personal development.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of teaching plans for pupils with SEND.
• Some gaps in pupils' knowledge due to curriculum sequencing issues.
• Leaders need to improve monitoring of curriculum implementation.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Kings Ash Academy attended 91.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 30.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 3.6% of pupils at Kings Ash Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 3 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Kings Ash Academy had 15.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 26.3% of pupils at Kings Ash Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Kings Ash Academy received £9,958 and spent £9,494 for each of its 333 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £5,000 (£16 per pupil).

Across all 19 schools of The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, income was £8,363 and spending £8,363 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Paignton · Torbay local authority: places and applications

Kings Ash Academy is part of The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, which runs 25 schools. The nearest others:

• Paignton Academy Paignton
• Curledge Street Academy Paignton
• Furzeham Primary School Brixham
• Brixham College Brixham
• Plympton Academy Plymouth
• Plymouth High School for Girls Plymouth
• Penbridge Infant School Portsmouth
• The Portsmouth Academy Portsmouth
• New Horizons Primary School Portsmouth
• Penbridge Junior School Portsmouth

What is Kings Ash Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Kings Ash Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Kings Ash Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Kings Ash Academy was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Kings Ash Academy have?

Kings Ash Academy has 293 pupils on roll.

What age range does Kings Ash Academy cover?

Kings Ash Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Kings Ash Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Kings Ash Academy?

Kings Ash Academy is at Pimm Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 3XA.