• Totnes Independent says it combines ambition, achievement and wellbeing in a small-school setting.
• The school emphasises critical thinking, oracy, project learning and strong support for mental health and social development.
• The school is progressive, humane and clearly values-led.

• A compelling choice for families who want a small, non-punitive secondary school and are not persuaded by mainstream norms.
• The project-based approach and focus on wellbeing will feel like the point of the school, not an add-on.
• It seems particularly attractive for thoughtful pupils who might be overlooked in larger settings.

Totnes Independent School mainly admits at Year 7, with places sometimes available in later years after a visit and conversation about fit. Published guidance suggests a deliberately personal admissions process aimed at families who want a small secondary school with a distinctive ethos.

Totnes Independent School does not advertise a conventional scholarship or bursary scheme. The appeal is its educational model and small-community feel rather than awards-based competition.

• The school does not publish entry-point-specific bursary information, so families should ask whether support differs between prep, senior and sixth-form entry.
• No public award range, remission percentage or fund size is published.
• Families should contact admissions or the finance team directly to ask what fee assistance is available, whether it is means-tested and whether support is reviewed annually.

The school's public inspection story is unusually strong for its size. It highlights a significant strength identified by ISI and also points families to the 2024 report, which described strong support for wellbeing and good progress for pupils, including those with SEND.