Stowford School

About Stowford School

Stowford School is a state primary in South Hams, Devon, and it is noticeably popular with local families. The school has a published capacity of 420 places but currently houses 436 pupils, meaning it is operating slightly above its official limit. This oversubscription is backed up by the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake: the school received 90 applications for 60 places, with exactly 60 of those coming as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.5. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 8.1%, which is well below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively affluent intake. The school does not have a religious character and is mixed-gender, catering for children from age 2 through to 11, with nursery provision on site. Headteacher Rob Pepper leads a school that clearly commands strong local demand, and the fact that every first-preference applicant secured a place indicates that the catchment area is working effectively for those who live closest.

Academically, Stowford performs strongly, particularly in core subjects. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is well above the Devon local authority average of 57%. The school ranks 4th out of 35 primary schools in South Hams and sits in the top 10% nationally for this measure. Looking at individual subjects, 95% of pupils met the expected standard in maths and 92% in reading, with average scaled scores of 110 in both — comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 56% achieved greater depth in maths and 55% in reading, though writing at the higher level was lower at 25%. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in June 2023, confirmed it remains Good, matching its previous graded inspection from 2014. Leadership and management, as well as overall effectiveness, were both rated Good, and the early years provision was also judged Good in the earlier 2009 inspection.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a gymnasium, library, playing fields, a sensory room, forest school provision and a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, cricket, athletics and rounders, while clubs extend to gardening, art and film. Stowford has a comprehensive SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. This breadth suggests the school is well equipped to support a wide range of additional needs. For families considering Stowford, the key takeaway is that it is a high-performing, oversubscribed primary with strong academic outcomes and a broad support framework. It will particularly suit families who value strong core results, a non-religious setting, and a school that can accommodate children with varied SEND requirements from an early age.

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