Plymouth High School for Girls
99%
Capacity
795
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymouth High School for Girls is a popular choice among local families, with 133 first-preference applications for just 120 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. The school was oversubscribed 3.02 times over, meaning for every place available, three families put it as their top pick. Of those 362 total applications, 90 first-preference offers were made. While the school does not publish a parent-view recommendation score, the high demand suggests strong local confidence. The school is a state-funded girls’ secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it operates as a non-faith school. It currently has 795 pupils on roll, just shy of its 804 capacity, and 11.1% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools.
Academically, Plymouth High for Girls performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.24 is rated as ‘Average’ nationally but sits well above the Plymouth local authority average of -0.04, placing it 5th out of 18 schools in the area. Attainment 8 stands at 65.3, and 90.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 40.5%, and the EBacc average point score is 5.82. In the sixth form, outcomes are more mixed: the value-added score is -0.31, which is rated ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry is 34.33, equivalent to a C+ grade. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2024 confirmed it remains Good overall, with leadership and management also rated Good. However, the sixth-form provision was judged as Requires Improvement, a point worth noting for families considering the full 11–18 journey.
The school offers a strong range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, art studios, an ICT suite, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports on offer include netball, hockey, swimming, gymnastics, and even rugby and football. Clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and debating to coding, orchestra, and chess. The school has identified SEND provisions for autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. With oversubscription at 3.02, families living further from the school may need to consider admission criteria carefully. Plymouth High for Girls is a solid choice for academically able girls who want a strong all-round experience, particularly at GCSE level, though those eyeing the sixth form may want to probe the recent Ofsted finding on sixth-form quality.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | St Lawrence Road, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 6HT |
| Headteacher | Simon Underdown |
| Local Authority | Plymouth |
| Number of Pupils | 795 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.1% |
| School Capacity | 795 / 804 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (18 Apr 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 20 Oct 2011. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.24)
966th of 3,141
Nationally
80th of 306
In South West
5th 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
39.2
'22/23
33.9
'23/24
34.3
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
2022/2374%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 117 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)74%
- FE college20%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
- Sixth form college1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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: 79 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
32%
Russell Group
23%
Top-third HE
3%
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%
- Further education8%
- Not sustained6%
- Other education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Psychology45
- Biology32
- History23
- Geography21
- Law21
- Chemistry20
- English Literature20
- Mathematics20
- Media/Film/Tv Studies20
- Business Studies:Single19
- Environmental Science19
- Art and Design (Fine Art)18
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
2025/26Oversubscribed120
362
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
133 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% 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 British76.6%
- White (other)7.0%
- Mixed5.1%
- Asian5.1%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
11
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plymouth High School for Girls
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
St Lawrence Road, Plymouth
Plymouth, PL4 6HT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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