Mrs Ethelston’s CE Primary School in Uplyme, East Devon, has been selected as one of Devon Music Education Hub’s new Lead Schools for Music. Lead Schools for Music will support the Hub to realise the aspirations of the Department for Education’s National Plan for Music Education.  

 

Selected in recognition of their outstanding music provision, Devon’s Lead Schools including Mrs Ethelston’s, will work closely with the Hub to create sustainable, high-quality music education provision in line with the Department for Education’s national plan for this subject. Mrs Ethelston's is one of twenty-one primary and secondary schools in Devon to be selected. 

 

The Lead Schools for Music will play a crucial role in advocating for music education aiming to ensure all children have access to high quality music education and opportunities.  Lead Schools will foster collaboration among local schools supporting the Hub’s mission to provide inclusive and diverse musical experiences to include primary, secondary, SEND and Alternative Provision settings 

 

Mrs Allington, Head of School, says, ‘We are very excited to work in collaboration with other schools in the area to really enhance musical opportunities in our community. We want to celebrate our musical successes and support the work of the Music Hub to raise the profile of music for all children.’    

 

Mrs Ethelston’s CE Primary School is part of First Federation Trust, a multi academy of 29 primaries across Devon and Dorset.  

 

Claire Fegan, Director of School Improvement at First Federation Trust, says, ‘We’re very pleased that Mrs Ethelston’s has been recognised in this new scheme. Music plays an important part in all our schools as it allows children to express themselves creatively. We encourage children to sing and play instruments to try and help increase self-confidence, and we aim to expose them to a variety of different genres and musical periods in order to foster a love for music overall. We look forward to supporting Mrs Ethelston’s and will share best practice with other schools in the Trust.’   

In their recent Ofsted inspection of Axminster Community Primary Academy in East Devon, inspectors concluded that the school is Good in all areas including quality of education, behaviour, leadership and management, and more.   

 

Pupils are seen to behave well and ‘learn how to care for themselves and others’, and the school has made significant improvements to the curriculum which have been fully embraced.   
  

Claire Hulbert, Head of School, said, ‘Our core values of honesty, resilience, courage, kindness, respect, and community are at the heart of everything we do here at Axminster Community Primary Academy, and we are thrilled that Ofsted has acknowledged the happiness, safety, and inclusivity experienced by our pupils. Our dedicated staff work diligently to ensure our curriculum is tailored to meet the diverse needs of all learners, and we take immense pride in our pupils who have excellent knowledge which they retain and apply effectively.’  

 

Ofsted recognises pupils’ ‘positive attitudes to learning’ including how well they work together and appreciates the school’s commitment to nurturing and developing pupils’ talents and interests.   

 

Claire continues, ‘Over the past three years, we have successfully expanded our facilities, significantly enhancing the learning environment available to our pupils. This expansion has allowed us to increase our nursery and school provision and our school community is now more diverse than ever, with pupils speaking fourteen different languages. We take great pride in fostering an atmosphere of tolerance and a secure understanding of equality and the rule of law among our children.  

 

‘Looking ahead, we are excited to embark on the next phase of our school improvement journey. Next year, we will re-launch our Axminster 6 provision, offering half-termly experiences designed to enrich the learning of each year group. Additionally, our Friday afternoon club enrichment initiative will provide every pupil with the opportunity to engage in a club for half a term, fostering their interests and encouraging connections with peers across the school.’  

 

Axminster Primary joined First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primary schools across Devon and Dorset, in September 2024 and has since benefited from the sharing of best practice from the other member schools.     

 

Claire Fegan, Director of School Improvement at First Federation Trust, said 'We have really enjoyed working with the team at Axminster Primary since they joined us in September, supporting their developments within teaching, learning and curriculum.  It is particularly pleasing to see Ofsted's recognition of how well teachers present new information.  We look forward to continuing to work with the school on their next chapter and future improvements.'   

 

Mrs Hulbert continues, ‘We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our school community for their unwavering support. We work hard to embody a collaborative environment where everyone is invested in the learning and development of our pupils, and the relentless commitment of staff, pupils, parents and carers, and the Trust is paramount to making a positive difference in the lives of each child. Together we will fulfil our vision of ‘Achievement for All.’  

The eagerly anticipated redevelopment of the Manstone Avenue site at Sidmouth CE Primary School in Devon is set to begin this July, with local company Skinner Construction due to complete the works.   

 

The collaborative project has been partly funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and Devon County Council, with plans approved by DfE last year to replace and renovate existing buildings, creating a modern new space for pupils’ learning and development.   

 

Alex Spraggon, Head of School, says, ‘We’re really pleased to have a start date for the development works at Manstone and look forward to the benefits the new site will bring to our school and local community. Work is due to be completed by May 2026 and will consist of a modern new-building and redeveloped area both indoors and out, where pupils will continue to receive the high standard of education and care we offer.’    

 

Sidmouth CE Primary is a member school of First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primaries across Plymouth, Devon and Dorset.   

 

Paul Walker, Chief Executive Officer of First Federation Trust, says, ‘We’re extremely grateful to DfE and Devon County Council for providing funding for this much needed project, and we look forward to working with Skinner Construction, a long-established Sidmouth based company who were awarded the contract after we went out to tender.   

 

'We pride ourselves in working with our member schools to do whatever is needed to improve pupil outcomes and work hard to enhance provisions for all. Sidmouth Primary is known for driving continual improvement and for offering children excellent opportunities which this new site will continue to enhance.’   

 

Mr Spraggon continues, ‘I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience as we’ve waited for this project to begin. We're very excited about the impending improvements and will continue to share updates throughout the year. People can follow us on our Sidmouth Primary Facebook page to see photos and notifications along the way.’    

Musbury Moles Preschool near Colyton in East Devon has been incorporated into Musbury Primary School, which is part of First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primary schools across Devon and Dorset. 

 

Clair Murrell, Head of Musbury Primary, says, ‘Musbury Moles is a well-established preschool based in a separate building on site here at the school. We’ve always maintained a strong, collaborative partnership but feel really excited to officially join forces with them and make it a school-based Nursery for children from two years old. We will continue to provide excellent learning opportunities in a safe and supportive environment, taking advantage of the wonderful outdoor space and highly qualified staff.’ 

 

Starting life as a small group of South Devon schools in 2006, First Federation has grown to a larger multi-academy with primaries spanning across Plymouth, Devon and West Dorset, with schools ranging from two-class village establishments to those from larger coastal towns including church and community. Musbury Primary joined the Trust in 2017 and has benefited greatly over the years from the collaboration and shared expertise on offer, receiving support from leaders in education, safeguarding, inclusivity and professional development. 

 

Paul Walker, Chief Executive Officer of First Federation Trust, said, ‘We’re very pleased to welcome Musbury Moles into our family of schools and look forward to working closely with them as part of our ongoing support with Musbury Primary. As with all our member schools, we will use our collective knowledge and skills to contribute to the growth and development of the Nursery, to ultimately provide the best possible education for all. 

  

It’s important for our member schools to retain their unique identity and values. Musbury Nursery will draw from the existing strength of the school and begin striving towards a shared vision for children to ‘dream big and aim high’, while aspiring for every individual to aspire, flourish and achieve within the heart of the community.’   

 

Ewan Emery-Rich, Acting Nursery Lead, said, ‘We’re looking forward to the future opportunities this amalgamation will bring and to sharing our knowledge and resources. We will continue to encourage children to explore the world around them, and to learn via an extensive range of activities including Forest School, 'cooking’ in the sensory garden and building bug hotels. As an Eco School Green Flag award holder, we also teach children the importance of recycling and upcycling from a young age.’ 

 

Clair Murrell continues, ‘Nursery children will benefit from our broad and progressive Early Years curriculum, and we will introduce reading and phonics from an early age to provide a seamless transition into Reception.’  

 

Musbury Nursery will provide term-time childcare during school opening hours with spaces available from September 2025. Families should contact the school office if they are interested in a visit. 

In their recent Ofsted Inspection of St Budeaux CE Primary on the outskirts of Plymouth, inspectors concluded that leaders had taken 'successful actions to maintain the Good standards of education from their previous inspection'. The latest report has deemed the school to be ‘ambitious for pupil's achievement and personal development' where 'staff create a nurturing environment' and 'pupils are kind and respectful'. 

 

Natasha Brooks, Head of School, said, ‘We’re really pleased that Ofsted has recognised how happy, safe and supported our pupils feel. We work hard to ensure children are meeting expected standards and to support children throughout their entire learning journey from Nursery through to the transition to secondary school. We pride ourselves on our values of friendship, love, forgiveness, respect and joy, and appreciate the recognition of how ‘kind and respectful’ pupils are. 

 

In 2023, we transitioned to a primary setting and now offer our nursery provision for two-year-olds through to Year 6. Children settled into this extremely well, with those from early years enjoying socialising with older pupils, and our older children taking time to support the younger ones. We've worked hard to improve many facilities recently including a new library space which supports our priority for reading and an outdoor classroom, and we are currently in the process of investing £50,000 into the regeneration of an outdoor room which will be used by local community groups and the school.’ 

 

St Budeaux is governed by First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primary schools across Devon and Dorset, and has benefited from the sharing of best practice from the other member schools.    

 

Paul Walker, Chief Executive Officer at First Federation Trust said, ‘Our member schools, including St Budeaux, benefit from working collaboratively, sharing collective experience, and providing support and inspiration to one another. We seek to enhance the provision at all our schools, whilst enabling them to maintain their individual identities and the freedom to shape and deliver a curriculum that reflects their school's values.

 

At St Budeaux, senior leaders work with staff to develop an expansive, ambitious curriculum which is regularly reviewed to support the needs and interests of all children. Teaching staff have been provided with training and development opportunities to ensure their subject knowledge is up to date, and Ofsted has recognised the detailed knowledge they display across a broad range of subjects.’   

 

St Budeaux offers ample opportunity for pupils to ‘develop their strength of character and understanding of community’ through fund-raising initiatives, visiting local care homes and more. They’re offered insightful careers advice and have access to a range of extra-curricular activities including cookery, junior field gun and sport. The school links with a local university to provide children with challenges and activities to develop their teamwork and resilience skills.  

 

Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘well supported and confident in their learning’, and all children are taught how to manage their emotions. There is a good understanding of the high behavioural expectations, and pupils are ‘encouraged to become active citizens and to understand their own mental health’.   

 

Mrs Brooks continues, ‘We’d like to thank our hardworking staff and pupils, and our parents, carers and the Trust for their continued support. We look forward to completing the refurbishment of our room for the community and will continue make future improvements where needed to enhance our facilities and education for all.’        

St Andrew’s CE Primary near Chardstock, which is ‘living up to its foundation as a Church school’, is ‘a special place where pupils and adults are nurtured to live life in all its fullness’ and ‘people are valued as unique and precious individuals’ according to the latest SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) report by the Church of England.   

   

Donna Butler, Head of School, said, ‘At St Andrew’s, our Christian values and ethos underpin everything we do. We are a fully inclusive school welcoming children from all faiths and backgrounds, and we encourage children to celebrate life through friendship, make good decisions, persevere, and be peaceful, loving and respectful. We’re happy to see recognition of all this and more in this report, including how we offer a caring environment and nurture the emotional and mental wellbeing of our pupils.’   

   

St Andrew's has been part of First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primaries across Plymouth, Devon and Dorset, since 2024. Together ‘school leaders and staff consider deeply what is best for pupils, their families and the local community’, and the ‘support of the trust has given school leaders and staff a renewed sense of confidence and energy’.   

   

Paul Walker, Chief Executive for First Federation, said ‘Staff at St Andrew’s work hard to weave their Christian vision through everything they do, allowing pupils to flourish together and achieve great things. Together we are fully committed to meeting the individual needs of all pupils, offering support and adapting learning where needed.’   

   

The school community recognise St Andrew’s as being 'a loving place where people are welcome and accepted’. Those with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) are seen to ‘thrive in an inclusive classroom environment'’, and the ‘idyllic rural setting’ of the school offers a ‘calming and therapeutic environment’ for all. Pupils ‘have the chance to shine and are celebrated’ allowing them to grow in confidence and self-belief, and are offered the chance to participate in extra activities relevant to their interests including chess and eco-club.   

  

Collective worship plays an important part of school life which is enriched by local church communities, allowing pupils to grow spiritually and offering comfort and joy. Singing offers a 'sense of freedom and unity’ and lifts spirits.  

  

Children are conscientious in their approach to life with mature consideration for ethical issues and a desire to make a difference to the world by spreading awareness and fund-raising. They are respectful of their environment, taking part in the Eco-club, litter-picking and encouraging wildlife, all of which is seen to bring ‘joy and peace for the school community’.   

  

High importance is placed on RE as a subject as it’s known to ‘prepare pupils to live life to the full in a world of diversity’, with staff training creating enthusiastic teachers who have professional expertise in this area. The curriculum is regularly reviewed to maintain its aspirational qualities resulting in a good understanding of the knowledge alongside key skills in debating and reflecting. This helps to create independent learners and respectful listeners.   

  

Leaders, staff and pupils have a deep respect and understanding of each other, with staff feeling ‘uniquely valued and trusted by school leaders’ as they are ‘encouraged to flourish personally and professionally’.   

  

Donna continues, 'We’re very proud of our pupils here at St Andrew’s, who work and play harmoniously and happily together. SIAMS describes our school as being ‘a beacon of love and friendship’ which ‘radiates hope and peace’ and we whole-heartedly agree. We are actively integrated in the local community, and it’s lovely to hear how people enjoy celebrating Christian festivals with us, offering great joy to those who join us.' 

In their recent Ofsted Inspection of Musbury Primary Academy near Colyton and Axminster in East Devon, Inspectors concluded that leaders had taken 'successful actions to maintain the Good standards of education from their previous inspection'. In the latest report, pupils are seen to be ‘welcoming and kind’ and ‘courteous to visitors’, and 'positive, trusting relationships permeate the school.’  

 

Clair Murrell, Head of School, said, ‘As a small, village school which lies at the heart of our community, we pride ourselves on our strong relationships with pupils and parents. We aspire to provide a safe, warm and friendly space which has a supportive and inspiring learning environment for all, and we encourage children to dream big and aim high. We’re really pleased that Ofsted has recognised how considerate, well behaved and curious our pupils are.’    

 

It’s been noted that ‘parents and carers value the school’s nurturing and inclusive atmosphere’ and that the school is highly ambitious with ‘high expectations for pupils’ achievement’. Children are deemed to be ‘happy and safe’ and secure in the knowledge that ‘there are trusted adults to help them if they have any worries’.   

 

Musbury Primary is governed by First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primary schools. Together, the school and Trust have developed ‘a coherent curriculum that sets out the specific knowledge that pupils will learn’ which takes account of the school’s mixed-aged classes. The small school environment and mixed classes enable children to forge strong friendships with all ages, where pupils listen to each other with consideration and respect, helping them to become ‘responsible and active citizens’.   

 

Kath Powell, Director of Inclusion at First Federation Trust, said, ‘We have worked closely with staff at Musbury to develop ways to efficiently identify those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and learning is adapted to meet those needs while offering the same curriculum opportunities as their peers. We’re fortunate to have a team of passionate teaching staff who make it their mission to get the most out of each child, regularly checking pupils’ knowledge at key points throughout the academic year and offering support to those who need it most.’  

 

Children gain confidence throughout their school life from early years onwards, building on their vocabulary and using new words and phrases. They ‘engage deeply with skilfully crafted learning activities’ which develops their independence, and there is a strong focus on reading which is specifically tailored to their phonics knowledge. The school’s new curriculum for writing has had a’ positive impact on how pupils apply their phonics and spelling knowledge’.   

 

The school environment is seen to be ‘calm and orderly’ due to a good understanding of the rules, and pupils attend school regularly due to the close working relationship with parents and external agencies when improvements are needed.   

 

Clair continues, ‘We make personal development a priority for pupils which is seen as a strength of the school and like to encourage mental and physical wellbeing alongside exciting residentials and school trips, which help to develop leadership and teamwork skills and a better understanding of the world around us.   

 

We’re very grateful for our hardworking staff who have expressed how proud they are to work at our school, and to the Trust for their continued support and professional development, and we’d like to thank our pupils and our parental community for working with us to make this a fantastic school for all.’    

Willowbank Primary Academy, a large school in Cullompton Devon has selected Hannah Jay as the new Head of School. Hannah, who was previously Deputy Head, started in her new role at the beginning of summer term. She will continue to steer the way and make positive improvements in learning and behaviour, encouraging pupils to thrive in a safe and happy environment.  

  

Hannah said, ‘I feel incredibly grateful to be able to lead the school in the next phase of its development, building on the current school priorities and driving change moving forwards. I plan to continue raising the profile of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in our school, working hard to ensure we are adapting to their needs in the classrooms, adapting curriculum design to make sure it’s fully inclusive, and to ensure all our learners  thrive.’  

  

Willowbank joined First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 schools across Devon and West Dorset, over seven years ago.

 

Kath Powell, Director of Inclusion for First Federation Trust, said, ‘We have worked hard with Willowbank over the years to provide opportunities for all and to build understanding and respect. Together we have high expectations for pupils, and our main aim is to ensure children feel happy, safe and secure.’  

   

Hannah continues, ‘One of our key goals at Willowbank is to prepare children for the wider world and as such we have created carefully constructed a positive behaviour policy that encompasses what it looks like to be Ready, Respectful and Safe. Continuing to build on the culture of high expectations in our school, ensuring consistency and predictability in the delivery of this policy is a priority. We’re very fortunate to have some very passionate and talented teaching staff at Willowbank, and together we will strive to improve our academic outcomes for all children, regardless of their starting point, with a particular focus on Writing and closing the disadvantage gap.’   

Hawkchurch CE Primary on the border of Devon and Dorset, ‘welcomes and nurtures the individuality of its pupils’ and is Good in all areas according to Ofsted. 

 

Chris Threlfall, Head of School said, ‘Our school may be small, but we have a very big heart, with happy and harmonious children, and enthusiastic staff who encourage our pupils to Learn Together and Grow Together with respect, resilience, compassion, community and enjoyment. We’re pleased to see all our hard work recognised by Ofsted who have witnessed first-hand how amicable and earnest our pupils are.’   

 

Pupils are seen to ‘support and encourage each other in class and on the playground because they see this modelled by staff’ and they are emotionally aware of their peers, displaying ‘a strong awareness of why their friends might struggle’. There is much trust between staff and children with help to manage behaviour and encouragement of great things for all. 

 

Hawkchurch is governed by First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primaries across Plymouth, Devon and Dorset, and has benefitted from the Trust’s support, guidance and challenge to ensure it is ‘well equipped to provide a high-quality education for its pupils’. 

 

Claire Fegan, Director of School Improvement for First Federation Trust, said ‘Teaching staff at Hawkchurch work hard to maintain an ambitious, well-designed curriculum with a learning experience offering opportunities for all. Strong relationships mean staff know their pupils very well, enabling potential challenges or special needs to be quickly identified and addressed, with adaptations being made where necessary.’ 

 

The school prioritises early language development and reading, laying down solid foundations for younger pupils preparing them well for future years. Songs, rhymes and stories are used to ‘spark an interest and broaden vocabulary’, with regular checks ensuring good knowledge retention and understanding. Children are ‘increasingly confident and fluent readers’ with a ‘good awareness of the diverse world around them’, and those who need extra help are well supported. Pupils ‘learn to read with great success and develop a love of reading for pleasure’, while also securing a solid understanding of different faiths and cultures and good attitudes to physical and mental health.  

 

Wider development is enriched through fundraising opportunities, leadership roles, and participation in local events, which help to ‘build confidence and independence’ and ‘prepares pupils well to be active community participants in the future’.  

 

Chris continues, ‘We are really proud of our well-behaved pupils and want to thank them, alongside their parents and carers, for their positive attitude. Ofsted recognised that children ‘are motivated to behave well because they want to do well’ and they have a sense of pride in our school encouraging good attendance. We couldn’t agree more and want to thank our hard-working staff for their dedication and passion, and the Trust for its continued support. Together we will continue to learn and grow.’ 

Mary Dean’s CE Primary on the outskirts of Plymouth, which is ‘living up to its foundation as a Church school’, offers a ‘warm, Christian welcome’ with flourishing as a family at the heart of everything they do according to the latest SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) report by the Church of England.  

 

Donna Wilson, Head of School, said ‘We encourage pupils to work together as a nurturing family, and grow together for a flourishing future with thankfulness, responsibility, courage, friendship, truthfulness and forgiveness. We have worked hard to cement our vision and values into the core of everything we do, encouraging children to use them as a daily guide which has helped to increase their understanding. We are pleased to see recognition of all this and more in our SIAMS report.’ 

 

There has been a positive change in the provision of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with ‘systems and processes being implemented’ and ‘a focus on ensuring strong relationships with families’ ensuring they have ‘the help and encouragement they need’. Staff ‘know their pupils well and strive to give them the appropriate support’. 

 

Mary Dean’s is part of First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primaries across Plymouth, Devon and Dorset, which has helped the school identify the best steps to keep moving forward. Staff are committed to constantly reviewing and honing the curriculum, making sure it is driven by the vision and enabling pupils to flourish.   

  

Angela Jenkins, Director of Performance and Development for First Federation, said ‘At the Trust, we are committed to ensuring staff are well-supported through up-to-date training, and we have prioritised RE as an important subject alongside our other core lessons. We work alongside teaching staff to develop the curriculum and enhance the classroom environment, and it’s great to hear how much pupils enjoy the different ways learning is presented and explored, and how confidently children talk about their understanding of others and different faiths.' 

 

Leaders work hard to develop ample opportunities for pupils to develop and flourish in terms of their personal growth with access to a good range of extracurricular activities, and also their spirituality via the curriculum, values and collective worship. Children and adults all enjoy coming together to pray, sing, recall stories and ‘explain how these inspire them to think about their own actions’. Worship is inclusive at Mary Dean's and ‘pupils play an increasingly meaningful role’, leading prayer and time for reflection.  

 

Everyone is well cared for at Mary Dean’s which is highly valued by all staff, pupils and families, as leaders ‘are committed to the flourishing of others’. Pupils learn how to make and maintain positive relationships, and to live physically and mentally healthy lives, and are encouraged to take on positions of responsibility and leadership inside and out of school with internal roles and outreach links with local charities and organisations. Children understand the values of friendship and responsibility and enjoy helping their peers in need.  

The school has made it a priority to bring about change to encourage good behaviour which is ‘framed in the vision and Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness’. 

 

Donna continues, ‘I’d like to thank all our families for their constant support in upholding our values, and to our pupils, staff and the Trust for their passion, determination and hard work. We are dedicated to our children’s education in study and life skills, and we make it our duty to continue to develop and grow.’