Dartington Church of England Academy
Totnes, TQ9 6JU · Devon · primary school
Check the area around this school
53rd of 279 primary schools in Devon we can score, 309 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.7/10 against 3,438 of them, against 7.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 72.0 · 71 | 40% | 2.83 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 11.0 · 71 | 25% | 1.77 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dartington Church of England Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 72.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 11.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Frazoo, Drama, Photo Seeds, Spanish, Gardening, Quiet, and Craft Clubs, as well as Multi Sport and Football. Music lessons and Rocksteady are available. Both breakfast and after-school clubs operate.
Getting in
The published school roll is 286 pupils against a stated capacity of 350. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are not yet meeting the expected standard in maths? What specific activities take place during the Frazoo Club sessions?
What Ofsted said about Dartington Church of England Academy
Overview
Dartington Church of England Academy continues to be a good school, where pupils are proud, feel safe, and behave well within a respectful community. Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum that celebrates local culture and global issues, with a strong focus on reading and mathematics. However, inconsistencies in assessment and subject leadership mean that some pupils do not learn as successfully as they could in certain areas.
Strengths
- Pupils are confident, respectful, and value the school’s ethos of ‘compassion, trust, peace, wisdom, creation and creativity’.
- Leaders have made reading a priority, with staff skilfully supporting decoding and ensuring books are well matched to pupils’ abilities.
- The mathematics curriculum is coherently planned, allowing pupils to apply previous knowledge to new ideas from an early stage.
- The wider curriculum provides diverse opportunities, such as using the on-site forest school and building pulley cars, fostering resilience and confidence.
- Staff morale is high, with leaders considering well-being and workload, while governors effectively support and challenge leaders.
Areas to improve
- Leaders need to ensure assessment systems are precise enough to provide teachers with the information required to develop a successful curriculum for all pupils.
- Subject leadership needs strengthening, as some checks are not precise enough to ensure the curriculum is implemented effectively.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders establishing a strong culture, making timely referrals, and ensuring adults are safe to work with pupils.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 77% |
| 2023/24 | 80% |
| 2024/25 | 72% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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