Plympton Academy

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.

Ofsted’s most recent inspection in March 2024 rated the school Requires Improvement overall, a repeat of its 2020 grade. The breakdown shows some nuance: behaviour and attitudes, and personal development, were both rated Good, which suggests the school has a positive climate for learning and decent pastoral care. But the quality of education, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision all remain Requires Improvement. At KS4, just 36.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and only 4.6% entered the EBacc at that level. The sixth form is small, with 51 students, and its value-added score of -0.66 is well below average, with A-level entries averaging a D+ grade. The progress banding is described as “well below average,” so the sixth form mirrors the KS4 pattern rather than offering a fresh start.

On the ground, the school is heavily oversubscribed: for 100 places in 2025/26, it received 239 applications, with 90 first-preference offers. That level of demand suggests it remains a popular choice locally despite the Ofsted rating. Facilities are decent for a state school — a theatre, astro turf, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth-form centre — and the sports offer is broad, including rowing, martial arts, and gymnastics. SEND provision covers dyslexia, autism, and social and emotional needs, which may appeal to families whose children need structured support. The school suits families who prioritise a calm, orderly environment (behaviour is rated Good) and a wide range of clubs from coding to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, but who are prepared to work with the school on raising academic attainment from a low base.

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