Decoy Primary School, Newton Abbot
Decoy Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Newton Abbot. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 26th-highest of the 27 schools in Newton Abbot with published results, and 12,633rd of 14,452 across England. It was 96% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Devon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Decoy Primary School in detail
Decoy Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Please scroll down through the links on the right, to find out more about our school."
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the children, staff, and governors, I welcome you to Decoy Community Primary School and Nursery. The site contains lots of information about the work we do and it is updated regularly. At Decoy Community Primary School and Nursery, we have a highly committed and professional staff dedicated to supporting and guiding your child's development."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:55am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at Decoy Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 79% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Decoy Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 55 families put Decoy Primary School as their first choice and 88 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Decoy Primary School are Haytor View Community Primary School (0.7 miles); Bearnes Voluntary Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 62% reading, 31% maths); All Saints Marsh CofE Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 85% reading, 92% maths); and Wolborough Church of England Nursery and Primary School (0.9 miles, 74% reading, 67% maths).
Decoy Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Haytor View Community Primary SchoolBearnes Voluntary Primary SchoolAll Saints Marsh CofE AcademyWolborough Church of England Nursery and Primary School
Who goes there
1.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Newton Abbot Rail Station, about 1140 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Keyberry Park (se-bound), 300 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 188 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Decoy Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Decoy Primary School are South Devon UTC (1.1 miles), Newton Abbot College (1.3 miles) and Coombeshead Academy (1.5 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from November 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2016 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
23.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 79% to 66% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 68% to 57% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 54% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.9
Avg class size
28.8
Infant (KS1)
28.5
KS2
16
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Decoy Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Decoy Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Decoy Primary School is in Devon; for families living there:
- Devon's school travel policy: Free school transport
- How to apply: Apply for free school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Decoy Primary School
Will you get a place at Decoy Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Decoy Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Decoy Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Decoy Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Devon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Decoy Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Devon got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
389 pupils
406 places
17 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Newton Abbot
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Newton Abbot
Across Devon council
Places available
9,014
Applications
6,494
Got 1st preference
96.5%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
77
SEN Support
23
EHC Plans
22.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
443
Total Pupils
236
Boys
207
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
18.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,458
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,057
Per pupil
£2193k
Total funding
£118k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.3%
Overall absence
10.1%
Persistent absence
337
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Decoy Primary School
Questions parents ask about Decoy Primary School
What are SATs results like at Decoy Primary School?
Of the pupils at Decoy Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 66% reached the expected standard in reading and 57% did so in maths.
What is Decoy Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Decoy Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Decoy Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Decoy Primary School is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Decoy Primary School?
Decoy Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Decoy Primary School?
Classes at Decoy Primary School average 26.9 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Decoy Primary School?
Decoy Primary School has around 443 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Decoy Primary School?
5.3% of sessions were missed at Decoy Primary School in 2024/25. 10.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Decoy Primary School?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming Decoy Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Decoy Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Decoy Primary School?
Decoy Primary School is at Deer Park Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 1DH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)