Hayes School

About Hayes School

Hayes School is a state primary in Torbay that is clearly in high demand. With 362 pupils on roll against a capacity of 446, the school is not at full capacity, yet the admissions data for 2025/26 tells a different story: 59 applications were received for just 37 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.59. Crucially, 36 of those 37 places went to first-preference applicants, and there were 37 first-preference applications in total, meaning almost every family who put it first got a place, but there was still significant competition overall. The school serves a community with a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 40.1%, well above the national average, which makes its subsequent performance all the more notable. It is one of only two primary schools in Torbay rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its headteacher is Mark Hanbury.

Academically, Hayes School is a standout performer in Torbay. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 82% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, far exceeding the local authority average of 61%. This places Hayes first out of 29 primary schools in Torbay and in the top 10% nationally. At the higher standard, 24% of pupils achieved the top marks across all three subjects, with particularly strong reading results where 39% reached the higher standard. Average scores in reading and maths both sat at 107. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 judged it Outstanding for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management, while early years provision and personal development were rated Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous Good rating in 2019.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including music rooms, a library, dining hall and ICT suite, and pupils can take part in sports such as swimming, netball, athletics and tennis, plus clubs like drama, gardening, choir and chess. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 94% of respondents would recommend the school, and 97% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. With nursery provision on site, it suits families looking for a strong local primary with proven academic results and a supportive environment, particularly those who can secure a place in a popular school.

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