Future of Shaugh Prior Primary School

Issued by Devon County Council and the Exe Valley and Moorsway Federation

Consultation Period:6 January 2026– 20 February 2026

If you need this document in a different format or language, please contact Devon County Council’s School Consultation Team on 01392 382057 or via email: schoolconsultations@devon.gov.uk

1. Introduction

Devon County Council and the Exe Valley and Moorsway Federation are consulting on the future of Shaugh Prior Primary School. This consultation is being undertaken in response to falling pupil numbers, educational standards and viability concerns.

• Background

Shaugh Prior Primary School is a small, rural school for children aged 4–11 maintained by Devon County Council. It has been under-subscribed for several years, and currently only has 2 pupils on roll, who since September 2025 have been educated off-site at Cornwood Primary School within the federation. This arrangement was made to ensure access to a broad and effective curriculum and for the children to interact with peers of their age.

Following an Ofsted inspection in December 2024, the school was judged inadequate. The Department for Education (DfE) subsequently issued an Academy Order. This meant that Shaugh Prior Primary must become an academy school as it was eligible for intervention. However, the DfE later concluded that the school may be unviable in terms of financial stability, standard of education and pupil numbers and has confirmed that this creates a challenging situation to find a suitable academy sponsor for a school where indicators are that it is unviable.

• Future Demographic and Local Context

A review of area health authority data which provides the number of 0-4 year olds living in the school’s catchment area shows very low numbers of pre-school aged children. Parental preference for admission to the school has been low in recent years. 

There is limited housing development in the village and the wider catchment area and no planned development within the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan to 2034.

• Consultation on the future of Shaugh Prior Primary School

Devon County Council is therefore consulting on the future of the school. This includes a proposal to close the school from 31 August 2026. As part of the consultation, any other options that come forward during the consultation stage will also be considered.

• Rural Schools and the presumption against closure

There is a presumption against the closure of rural schools. This does not mean a rural school will never close, but the case for closure should be strong and in the best interests of educational provision in the area. There are a number of factors to be taken into consideration when closing a rural school which Devon County Council and the federation have considered before bringing forward these proposals. Devon County Council’s Cabinet, when making the final decision, will have also have regard to these considerations.

• Admissions and transport arrangements

Should Shaugh Prior Primary School close on 31 August 2026, parents and carers would be able to express a preference for a place at an alternative school. Devon County Council will manage this process and try to ensure there are local places for all families. Parents and carers would be asked to complete an in-year admissions application form and to name up to three schools they would prefer their child/ren to attend. Devon County Council would try to meet parent and carers’ preferences wherever possible but cannot guarantee to do so as it would depend upon vacancies at that time. Admission Officers from Devon County Council would be available to support families in completing in-year applications. The process would not be on a first-come, first served basis as all parents would have an opportunity to consider their options. Applications would be considered together.

All children are entitled to free home to school transport if they attend the nearest school to their home address and they:

• are of statutory school age
• live more than two miles away by the shortest walking route (for primary)
• live under two miles away but all walking routes are considered unavailable

Children in Devon are also be entitled to free school transport to the school designated to serve their home address – provided it is still further than the statutory walking distance (see above).

If a decision is made to close Shaugh Prior Primary, consideration will be given to new designated school/s for the area and will be consulted on with neighbouring schools and within the Local Learning Community.

• Staff

There are no members of staff currently employed at Shaugh Prior Primary School. Staff who were working at Shaugh Prior in the summer term, during the last academic year, have been redeployed to other schools within the federation.

• Consultation and Decision-Making Process

The decision to consult on the future of the school has not been made lightly but is being brought forward in light of the low demand for school places, school standards, and the challenges the school faces in delivering the curriculum to such a small number of children.

No decision to close the school has been made.  A statutory process must be followed and is a legal requirement.

Following the end of this consultation period, Devon County Council will review the consultation responses and decide whether or not to proceed with a proposal to close the school. If a decision is made to publish a proposal to close the school then a formal representation period, lasting four weeks, will be held. During this representation period any person can submit an objection or comment upon the proposal to Devon County Council.

The final decision on whether or not to close Shaugh Prior Primary School would be made by Devon County Council’s Cabinet where elected members will consider all responses received to the consultation and representation period.

• Proposed timeline

The proposed timetable below, which may be subject to change, sets the draft timeline out. This timeline is only if there is agreement to each stage and a proposal to close the school proceeds:

Consultation period:6 January 2026– 20 February 2026

Information Session: 29 January 2026 at 3:45pm– 6:45pm, The Moorland Hotel,Wotter, Plymouth, PL7 5HP.

This information session, open to all members of the public, will be run in the format of a drop-in session. You are welcome to attend at any time between 3:45pm – 6:45pm where officers from Devon County Council and the school’s senior leadership team and governors will be able to answer any questions and hear your views. Please let us know if you are planning to come by emailing: schoolconsultations@devon.gov.uk

Subject to the proposal proceeding and dates subject to change:

Formal representation period: 2 March 2026 – 30 March 2026

Devon County Council Cabinet Meeting for decision: May – July 2026

Subject to Cabinet decision, the school may close on 31 August 2026.

All updates will be available on:

• School/Federation Website
• Devon County Council’s Consultation Website: https://new.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/

1. How to share your views

You are invited to attend an information session at The Moorland Hotel,Wotter, Plymouth, PL7 5HP on 29 January 2026 from 3:45pm to 6:45pmwith representatives from the Governing Body and Devon County Council. 

This session is an opportunity for individuals to raise any specific concerns and as it is not run in the format of a public meeting, you are welcome to drop-in at any time between 3:45pm – 6:45pm. Please email: schoolconsultations@devon.gov.uk if you will be attending so that we can confirm numbers attending. Please also confirm if you have any special requirements.

We welcome your views on the proposed closure or any alternative suggestions.  Please submit your response by 20 February 2026 via:

• Email: schoolconsultations@devon.gov.uk or

• Post: Shona Meek, School Place Planning Service, Room 248, Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QG.

All responses will be shared with decision-makers and the Federation’s senior leadership team and governors. Individual replies will not be issued, but a FAQ document will be published online. Privacy Notice: https://www.devon.gov.uk/privacy/privacy-notices/privacy-notice-for-representations-to-school-organisation-statutory-consultations/