Rydon Primary School, Newton Abbot

Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades Rydon Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed an extensive personal development programme, expertly tailored to the school's context."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils progress well through the curriculum from the early years to the end of key stage 2."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders check pupils' attendance closely."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school, supported by the trust, has moved at pace to establish an ambitious curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years and hold high expectations for children."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Rydon Primary is an inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context, strengths and areas for development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should develop staff expertise in the early years so that staff engage children in high-quality interactions that develop and extend their knowledge and vocabulary"; "Leaders should ensure that the high expectations of pupils' work in core subjects is replicated in the wider curriculum in order to maximise outcomes for all pupils".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, gymnastics, running, drama and choir.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care, from £4 per session.

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Rydon Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 83% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Rydon Primary School as their first choice and 65 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Rydon Primary School are Kingsteignton School (0.5 miles, Good, 67% reading, 81% maths); St Michael's Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 80% reading, 90% maths); All Saints Marsh CofE Academy (1.5 miles, Good, 85% reading, 92% maths); and Bearnes Voluntary Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 62% reading, 31% maths).

Rydon Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Rydon Primary School is one of 14 schools run by Education South West, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

84 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Rydon Primary School (as of April 2026): 82% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (82%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).

1.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 46 pupils (12.3%) received SEN support and 11 (2.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Newton Abbot Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rydon Acres (s-bound), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 49 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Rydon Primary School issued 10 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Rydon Primary School are Teign School (0.4 miles), South Devon UTC (1.5 miles), Newton Abbot College (1.7 miles) and Coombeshead Academy (1.7 miles).