SchoolScoresSt Michael's CofE Academy
Free school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Part of LEARNING ACADEMY PARTNERSHIP (SOUTH WEST)
Fisher Street, Paignton, TQ4 5EW
01803 500971 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 April 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Paignton comparisons use the 8 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 2 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Paignton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Paignton. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Paignton. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Paignton. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 87% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Paignton. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Paignton figures pool parents at the Paignton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Torbay. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 25 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 20 |
| Of those, offered a place | 20 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 37 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Torbay | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.5% | 28.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 4.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.8% | 16.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.4% | 8.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Lower than 84% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.9% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Lower than 79% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 13.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.11% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Higher than 55% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.0 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Paignton. Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.2 | 10.0 | 10.6 |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26.
Nearby primary schools
- Curledge Street Academy 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hayes School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart Catholic School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oldway Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Roselands Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), improved significantly 2025 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kings Ash Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2021), confirmed 2024 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Collaton St Mary CofE Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- White Rock Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Preston Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marldon CofE Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Michael's CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Michael's CofE Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 April 2024.
Would parents recommend St Michael's CofE Academy?
100% of the 19 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St Michael's CofE Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Michael's CofE Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 20 families put St Michael's CofE Academy as their first choice for 25 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 20 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147851.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.