Hele's School
103%
Capacity
1,393
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Hele's School
Hele's School, a mixed state secondary in Plymouth, holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2017, with a subsequent ungraded visit in 2023 confirming the school remains Good. The school's Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year sits at -0.09, placing it in the 'Average' banding nationally. This is slightly below the Plymouth local authority average of -0.04, but the school ranks 9th out of 18 secondary schools in the area. The Attainment 8 score of 47.3 gives a solid baseline for where pupils finish, while the basics measure shows 68.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school's EBacc average point score of 4.45 and the fact that 53.4% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects suggest a broad academic diet, though only 27.2% achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted and serves 85 pupils in the 2023/24 data. The average points per entry of 31.55 equates to a grade C, and the best three A-levels average out at a grade C as well. The value added score for the sixth form is -0.07, again classed as 'Average', meaning students generally achieve in line with expectations based on their prior attainment. The school's Progress 8 breakdown reveals some variation: progress in the EBacc subjects is positive at +0.18, while progress in English is notably lower at -0.28 and in the open element at -0.31. This suggests that while the school's core academic offer is broadly in line with national averages, there are pockets of strength and areas that may need attention, particularly around English outcomes compared with similar pupils nationally.
Hele's is a large school with 1,393 pupils on roll, slightly over its official capacity of 1,349, and it is clearly popular: for 2025/26 entry there were 586 applications for 230 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.55. Of those, 267 put the school as their first preference, and 219 first-preference offers were made. The school provides a wide range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, music rooms, a sixth form centre, and a chapel. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With a free school meals percentage of 16.2, the school serves a fairly typical demographic for a state secondary. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, well-subscribed community school with a Good Ofsted rating, a broad curriculum, and a sixth form that performs at average levels.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Seymour Road, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL7 4LT |
| Headteacher | Emma Clapham |
| Local Authority | Plymouth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,393 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,393 / 1,349 (103% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (23 Mar 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Sept 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.09)
1748th of 3,141
Nationally
174th of 306
In South West
9th of 18
In Plymouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
36.5
'22/23
30.3
'23/24
31.6
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
2022/2348%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 196 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)48%
- FE college30%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained5%
94% 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
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 95 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
18%
Russell Group
14%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)54%
- Employment25%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education3%
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- Psychology31
- Biology20
- Mathematics19
- Geography16
- Chemistry12
- History12
- Sociology12
- Business Studies:Single10
- Drama and Theatre Studies9
- Media/Film/Tv Studies9
- Religious Studies9
- Art and Design (Fine Art)8
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed230
586
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
267 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.7%
- White (other)5.0%
- Mixed3.2%
- Asian1.1%
- Black0.1%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 Hele's 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
Seymour Road, Plymouth
Plymouth, PL7 4LT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
