River Dart Academy, Dartington
River Dart Academy is an all-through school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Dartington, part of Wave Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Inadequate at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Inadequate (2023)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
River Dart Academy in detail
Getting a place at River Dart Academy
Across Devon, 93% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Devon lodged 66 appeals against secondary school offers; 48 reached a hearing and 10 succeeded (20.8% of those heard).
The trust
River Dart Academy is one of 11 schools run by Wave Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 50% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college and 25% into work.
Who goes there
69.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 33 pupils (84.6%) received SEN support and 6 (15.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Staverton (South Devon Railway), about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shinners Bridge (ne-bound), 60 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to River Dart Academy are Dartington Church of England Academy (0.2 miles) and The Grove School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
River Dart Academy excels at supporting vulnerable pupils, particularly those with SEND and negative previous school experiences. Staff are committed to helping every child succeed and tailor the curriculum expertly to individual needs. The school combines strong academic teaching, particularly in reading and mathematics, with an outstanding personal development programme that gives pupils real-world experiences and helps them plan for their future.
Key Strengths
- Inclusive culture where pupils feel safe, respected and supported with personalised learning tailored to individual needs
- Strong focus on reading across all subjects with effective support for developing fluency and comprehension
- Excellent personal development programme including enrichment activities, work placements, visits to local businesses and religious buildings, and careers guidance
- Calm, purposeful learning environment with positive relationships between staff and pupils
- Relentless focus on improving pupil attendance and tackling barriers to attending school
Areas for Improvement
- Implementation of wider curriculum subjects beyond the core is at early stages, meaning pupils do not yet gain the depth of knowledge intended
- Need for stronger support to staff to implement and adapt all subjects effectively across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created an open, positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Enrichment activities, work placements, visits to religious buildings, local business visits, trips, careers guidance
River Dart Academy is an alternative provision school that has made significant improvements and no longer requires special measures. The school provides personalised support to pupils with SEND, many of whom arrive with negative previous educational experiences.
At a Glance
69.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with River Dart Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near River Dart Academy.
- The Hollow Lane Club Dartington270m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to River Dart Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. River Dart Academy 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
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
39 pupils
40 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Dartington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dartington
Across Devon council
Places available
7,788
Applications
7,251
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
33
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
39
Total Pupils
25
Boys
14
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
3.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,263
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
River Dart Academy
Questions parents ask about River Dart Academy
What is River Dart Academy's Ofsted rating?
River Dart Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2023, it was rated Inadequate.
What is the catchment area for River Dart Academy?
No fixed boundary. When River Dart Academy is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to River Dart Academy?
River Dart Academy has around 39 pupils on roll. 69% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to River Dart Academy?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming River Dart Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does River Dart Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of River Dart Academy: The Hollow Lane Club Dartington (270m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near River Dart Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 River Dart Academy?
River Dart Academy is at Shinners Bridge, Dartington, Devon, TQ9 6JD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)