Dolton Primary School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Torridge
Dolton Primary School holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the school kitchen and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 20 May 2025, 13 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Dolton C Of E School, The Square, Dolton, EX19 8QF
How it compares in Torridge
A 1 is rare: only 8 of 679 rated places in Torridge score this low, about one in 85. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 581 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 59 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ← Dolton Primary School | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 94 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Dolton Primary School the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Dolton Primary School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak Pub/bar/nightclub | 15 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| SPAR - Wessex Retail Retailers - other | 68 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2024 |
| Neals Butchers Retailers - other | 166 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| The Rams Head Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 166 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
Questions about Dolton Primary School
What is Dolton Primary School's food hygiene rating?
Dolton Primary School has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Torridge Council on 20 May 2025.
Is Dolton Primary School safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The school kitchen is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Dolton Primary School last inspected?
Dolton Primary School was last inspected on 20 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Torridge Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Dolton Primary School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Dolton Primary School compare to other places in Torridge?
86% of the 679 rated food businesses in Torridge hold the top rating of 5, while Dolton Primary School holds a 1. 8 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Torridge Council inspects Dolton Primary School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Dolton Primary School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Torridge, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Torridge
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Dolton Primary School is one of 25 rated food businesses in Winkleigh. See every hygiene rating in Winkleigh →
Torridge inspects and rates 773 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Torridge →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/food
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →