Classpot

Plympton Academy

Plymouth, PL7 2RSSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Mar 2024
Progress 8
-0.39
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
90 1st-choice / 100 places
Ranking
#2,442
of 3,141 nationally

About Plympton Academy

Plympton Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.39 places it well below the Plymouth local authority average of -0.04 for secondary schools, a gap that signals pupils here make significantly less academic progress than their peers across the city. That score ranks the school 16th out of 18 similar schools in Plymouth, putting it in the bottom 10% locally and the bottom quarter nationally. The gap is consistent across every subject strand: English, maths, the EBacc subjects, and open qualifications all show negative progress scores, with maths the weakest at -0.45. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 41.6, meanwhile, suggests that even the raw grades pupils achieve are modest. For parents comparing options, this is a school where the headline data points to a clear challenge in driving academic outcomes up to the local norm.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMoorland Road, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL7 2RS
HeadteacherShaun Willis
Local AuthorityPlymouth
Number of Pupils1,078
Free School Meals (FSM)21.1%
School Capacity1,078 / 1,350 (80% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

19 Mar 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Sixth Form Provision
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 15 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Tennis CourtsDining HallArt StudiosPlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreMusic RoomsAstro TurfTheatreICT SuiteLibraryScience LabsSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

RugbyMartial ArtsFootballRowingTennisHockeyGymnasticsSwimmingDance

Clubs & Activities

GardeningModel United NationsNewspaperScience ClubEco ClubCodingChessDuke of EdinburghArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: plympton.academy. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Plympton Academy

Plympton Academy has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.