· TQ9 6AB
South Devon Steiner School is a small, independent all-through day school in rural Devon serving ages 3–18 within the Steiner education movement. The school emphasises holistic child development, artistic integration across the curriculum, and a developmental approach to learning that prioritises imagination and experiential understanding. With 253 pupils across nursery to sixth form, it offers a distinctly progressive alternative to conventional independent schooling in the South West.
Who thrives here
Families seeking a holistic, arts-rich education and parents who value developmental readiness over early academic acceleration; creative, kinaesthetic learners and children who thrive in nurturing, mixed-ability communities.
Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.
Hood Manor, Dartington, Totnes
TQ9 6AB
Nearest stations
Day fees at South Devon Steiner School are approximately £14,124 per year (2025/26).
South Devon Steiner School admits pupils at 3+, 4+, 7+, 8+, 11+, 13+, 16+. Entry is assessed by Interview, Assessment. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.
At South Devon Steiner School, 19.5% of GCSEs were grade 7/A or above. Full results are in the Results section above.
South Devon Steiner School is a day school in England and does not offer boarding.
Ofsted rated South Devon Steiner School “Good” (2023).
Frequently praised
✓Nurturing, low-pressure community ethos
✓Strong artistic and creative development
✓Genuine mixed-ability integration and celebration of different strengths
✓Supportive pastoral care and staff accessibility
Common concerns
!Not yet Ofsted-inspected; no external academic validation
!Limited STEM specialism and facilities compared to conventional independent schools
!Smaller pupil cohort may limit subject breadth and peer diversity at sixth-form level
!Unconventional pedagogy not suited to all learners; transition to formal GCSE study may feel abrupt