Coombe Dean School
85%
Capacity
1,003
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About Coombe Dean School
Coombe Dean School is a mixed state secondary in Plymouth that currently educates 1,003 pupils against a capacity of 1,180, meaning it operates below its maximum but is clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 472 applications for 169 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.79, and 165 of those offers went to first-preference applicants out of 236 who put it top of their list. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 20.6%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and reflects the school’s role in serving a diverse local community. Under headteacher Caroline Granville, the school has moved decisively forward from its previous Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement in 2018 to a full Good across all categories in its most recent graded inspection in 2022, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership.
Academically, Coombe Dean delivers solid results that sit comfortably above the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.16 is well ahead of the Plymouth average of -0.04, placing it 6th out of 18 schools in the LA and in the top 50 nationally by this measure. Attainment 8 stands at 48.6, and 75% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 53.3% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 33.6%, with 27.6% achieving the benchmark at grade 4 and 19.1% at grade 5. In the sixth form, 70 students achieved an average of 30.25 points per entry, equivalent to a grade C, and the value added score of -0.06 is rated as Average. The school’s best three A-levels averaged a grade C, with 9.8% of entries achieving AAB or higher.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, playing fields, art studios, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers ten activities from rugby and netball to gymnastics and cross country, while clubs extend to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, choir, orchestra, debate, and gardening. SEND support is well-defined, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and physical disability. For families considering Coombe Dean, the data paints a picture of a school that has improved significantly, is popular enough to be heavily oversubscribed, and delivers above-average academic progress in a Plymouth context, all while maintaining a genuinely comprehensive intake.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Charnhill Way, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL9 8ES |
| Headteacher | Caroline Granville |
| Local Authority | Plymouth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,003 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,003 / 1,180 (85% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.16)
1187th of 3,141
Nationally
107th of 306
In South West
6th of 18
In Plymouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
29.2
'22/23
27.0
'23/24
30.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2359%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 161 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)59%
- FE college30%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained3%
- Employment2%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 75 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
15%
Russell Group
11%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)55%
- Employment16%
- Not sustained12%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Further education4%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology28
- Biology23
- Geography19
- Mathematics19
- Chemistry13
- Art and Design10
- English Literature10
- Sociology8
- History7
- Physics7
- Computer Studies / Computing5
- Mathematics (Further)5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed169
472
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
236 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British74.4%
- White (other)7.9%
- Mixed4.5%
- Asian1.9%
- Black0.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Coombe Dean School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Charnhill Way, Plymouth
Plymouth, PL9 8ES
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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