Paignton Academy

About Paignton Academy

Paignton Academy is a large secondary school in Torbay, operating as a mixed, non-denominational state school for pupils aged 11 to 16. With 1,582 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,590, it is effectively full, and demand is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 401 applications for 327 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.23 applicants per place. Of those, 273 were first-preference applications, and 271 first-preference offers were made. The school serves a community with above-average disadvantage — 32.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, significantly higher than the national average. This context is important when interpreting its outcomes, as schools with higher FSM rates often face additional challenges. The school is led by headteacher Derwyn Williams and sits within the Torbay local authority, which contains nine secondary schools of the same type.

Academically, Paignton Academy’s most recent published data shows a Progress 8 score of -0.63, which is well below the national average and below the Torbay local authority average of -0.4. This places the school 5th out of 9 schools in the LA, and in the bottom 50% nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 37.5, and just 26.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics measure at the higher threshold). The EBacc average point score is 3.1, with only 3.6% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024, the school was judged as Requires Improvement overall, with the same rating for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. Personal development was rated Good. This represents a continuation of the Requires Improvement rating from the previous inspection in July 2022.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, science labs, and a chapel, alongside an ICT suite and library. Sports provision is broad, with options from rowing and martial arts to hockey and athletics, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and an eco club. SEND support covers nine categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Parent View responses from 112 respondents show a mixed picture: 62% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree that their child can take part in clubs and activities (92% agree or strongly agree) and that there is a good range of subjects (85%). However, only 43% of parents with SEND children feel the school gives them the support they need, and concerns about behaviour and bullying are more divided. This is a school that suits families who value its inclusive intake, broad extracurricular offer, and strong community demand, but who are aware that academic outcomes and Ofsted ratings are currently below the local average.

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