Shaldon Primary School

Shaldon Primary School is a highly effective primary school where pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their education. The report describes an ambitious, fully embedded curriculum, inspirational teaching and strong support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Reading is a particular priority, with precise phonics teaching and quick support for any pupil at risk of falling behind. Pupils are happy, behaviour is exceptional and attendance is high. The school's personal development work is a notable strength: pupils take on leadership roles, learn about responsibility, debate topical issues and develop respect for difference. The early years provision is thoughtfully designed, and staff build children's communication, language and confidence effectively. Leadership and governance are highly effective, staff feel supported, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school is an academy converter and part of The Academies for Character and Excellence. The report flags no specific areas of concern or improvement.

Strengths

• An ambitious curriculum is fully embedded across all year groups
• Teaching is inspirational and reflects high expectations for all pupils
• Pupils with SEND are identified early and supported effectively
• Reading and phonics are taught with precision and strong support for falling behind
• The early years environment is thoughtfully designed and captures children's imagination
• Pupils develop character, independence and responsibility
• Personal development is exceptional, with meaningful leadership roles for pupils
• Behaviour is exceptional and the school is calm and orderly
• Attendance rates are high and the school works closely with families
• Governance and trust support are highly effective
• Staff workload and well-being are considered in leadership decisions
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

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 Shaldon Primary School attended 96.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.4% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Shaldon Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No 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 Shaldon Primary School had 28.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.0% 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, 4.4% of pupils at Shaldon Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.7% 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 Shaldon Primary School received £5,769 and spent £6,281 for each of its 200 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £118,000 (£590 per pupil).

Across all 20 schools of The Academies for Character and Excellence, income was £6,628 and spending £6,807 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 Teignmouth · Devon local authority: places and applications

Shaldon Primary School is part of The Academies for Character and Excellence, which runs 20 schools. The nearest others:

• Torre Church of England Academy Torquay
• Collaton St Mary Church of England Primary School Paignton
• Berry Pomeroy Parochial CofE Primary School Totnes
• Brixham Church of England Primary School Brixham
• Galmpton Church of England Primary School Brixham
• Totnes St John's Church of England Primary School Totnes
• Trinity CofE Primary and Nursery School Exeter
• St Gabriel's CofE Primary School Exeter
• Newtown Primary School Exeter
• Stockland Church of England Primary Academy Honiton

What is Shaldon Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Shaldon Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Shaldon Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Shaldon Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Shaldon Primary School have?

Shaldon Primary School has 229 pupils on roll.

What age range does Shaldon Primary School cover?

Shaldon Primary School for pupils aged 0 to 11.

What are Shaldon Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Shaldon Primary School?

Shaldon Primary School is at Bridge Road, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 0DD.