Hooe Primary Academy

About Hooe Primary Academy

Hooe Primary Academy is a popular choice among Plymouth families, with 19 first-preference applications for its 21 Reception places in the 2025/26 admissions round — a clear sign of local demand. The school was oversubscribed overall, receiving 43 applications for those places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.05. While the Department for Education does not publish a parent view score for this school, the strong first-preference numbers suggest a solid reputation among those who know it best. Headteacher Kate Lewin leads a mixed, state primary for children aged 5 to 11, with 206 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210. The school has no religious character and does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in October 2022, confirmed that the school remains Good, a rating it has held since at least its previous graded inspection in 2013.

Academically, Hooe Primary Academy performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Plymouth local authority average of 63%. This places the school 3rd out of 65 primary schools in the city, putting it in the top 10% locally and the top 9% nationally. Reading scores were particularly strong, with a 91% expected standard rate and an average scaled score of 108; 42% of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading. In maths, 85% met the expected standard with an average score of 106, and 24% reached the higher standard. Writing saw 85% at expected and 15% at the higher level. The school’s Ofsted report rated both leadership and management and overall effectiveness as Good, and the previous inspection in 2008 rated early years provision as Outstanding.

The school offers a good range of facilities, including an outdoor playground, art studios, a gymnasium, a dining hall, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers dance, tennis, football, cricket, swimming, cross country and gymnastics, while clubs include film, art, gardening, choir and chess. Hooe has a broad SEND offer, supporting pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. With 8.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals — below the national average — the school serves a relatively advantaged intake. For families seeking a high-performing, oversubscribed primary in Plymouth with strong KS2 outcomes and a Good Ofsted rating, Hooe Primary Academy is a strong contender, though early application is essential given the competition for places.

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