Stokenham Area Primary School

About Stokenham Area Primary School

Stokenham Area Primary School is a mixed state primary in the Devon village of Stokenham, and its intake numbers suggest a school that local families are keen to get into. With 207 pupils on roll against a capacity of 222, the school is running at just over 93% full, leaving only a handful of spare places. The demand is clear: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 28 applications for 26 places, making it officially oversubscribed. All 26 first-preference applicants were offered a place, so while the oversubscription ratio is a modest 1.08, it still means anyone listing it second faces a gamble. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 6.3%, well below the national primary average of around 23%, reflecting the relatively affluent South Hams catchment. The school serves a largely rural, family-oriented community, and the headteacher is Tess Coulthard.

Academically, Stokenham performs strongly, particularly in reading. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the Devon local authority average of 57%. The school ranks 11th out of 35 primaries in South Hams and sits in the top 25% nationally. Reading is a standout subject: the average scaled score was 108, and 48% of pupils achieved the higher standard, compared with 29% in maths and just 13% in writing. Maths also performed solidly, with an average score of 105 and 87% reaching the expected level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 rated it Good overall, with Outstanding marks for behaviour and attitudes and for early years provision. The previous inspection in 2012 had rated it Outstanding across the board, so the current Good rating still reflects a high standard, with leadership and management judged Good.

The school offers a broad range of facilities for a village primary, including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, an ICT suite and art studios. Sports provision covers tennis, athletics, swimming, netball and gymnastics, while clubs include choir, drama, gardening, book club, art club and eco club. The SEND register is well-resourced, with provisions for dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, social and emotional mental health, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is nursery provision for younger children, but no sixth form. The school has a chapel on site, though it has no formal religious character. For families who value strong reading outcomes, a calm and well-behaved environment, and a full extracurricular programme in a rural setting, Stokenham is a solid choice — provided you get your application in early enough.

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