Goosewell Primary Academy

About Goosewell Primary Academy

Goosewell Primary Academy sits in the middle of the pack in Plymouth, with 63% of its pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 — exactly in line with the local authority average for primary schools. That places it 38th out of 65 primaries in the city, a solidly mid-table position. The school's overall Ofsted rating is Good, a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016 when it was judged to require improvement. In its most recent graded inspection, inspectors rated every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — as Good. An ungraded inspection in March 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained, so the school is on a steady upward trajectory rather than resting on its laurels.

Digging into the 2023/24 SATs results, Goosewell's strengths are clearest in reading, where 82% of pupils met the expected standard and 37% reached the higher standard, with an average score of 107. Maths is a touch behind: 79% at expected and 29% at higher, with an average score of 105. Writing is the weakest area, with 78% at expected and only 10% at the higher level. The combined expected standard of 63% matches the Plymouth average, but the school's ranking in the bottom half nationally (51st percentile) suggests there's room to push more pupils into the higher bands. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 15.3%, slightly below the national average, which may help contextualise the results. Parents are overwhelmingly positive — 91% would recommend the school, and 92% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy here.

The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 88 applications for 51 places, with all 50 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That ratio of 1.73 applicants per place suggests strong local demand. Facilities are decent for a primary: a library, sensory room, gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields and an ICT suite, plus a chapel. The range of clubs — film, coding, choir, gardening, eco club and drama — is varied, and sports include football, rounders, cricket, swimming and cross country. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, SEMH, speech and language, hearing impairment, autism, and a resourced provision. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Elburton Primary, 1.4 km away, so Goosewell is a solid Good option for families who want a well-run, improving school without the pressure of a top-tier ranking.

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