Plymstock School
96%
Capacity
1,607
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Plymstock School
Plymstock School is a large, mixed secondary in Plymouth that is clearly in demand. With 1,607 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,680, it is running very close to full. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 379 applications for 200 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.9, and made 154 offers to first-preference families. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 16.8%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools and reflects a genuinely comprehensive intake. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Stuart Koehler-Lewis. It also has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, confirming its all-through secondary provision from age 11 to 18.
Academically, Plymstock delivers solid, middle-of-the-road outcomes. Its Progress 8 score is exactly zero, meaning pupils achieve broadly the same GCSE results as similar students nationally. That places it 7th out of 18 schools in the Plymouth local authority and 1513th nationally, putting it in the top half of all schools. Its Attainment 8 score is 46.1, and 67.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 33.5%, with 23.4% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The sixth form also earned a Good rating, with a value-added score of 0.01 and an average A-level grade of C+ per entry. Compared to the Plymouth LA average Progress 8 of -0.04, Plymstock is performing slightly above the local norm.
The school is well equipped, with a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, and dedicated art and music studios. There is a strong range of extracurricular activities, including rowing, Model UN, coding, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. Given its size, oversubscription, and solid but not exceptional results, Plymstock is best suited to families who want a large, well-established comprehensive with a broad curriculum and good facilities, rather than a high-pressure academic environment. The sixth form is a natural continuation for those who stay on, offering average A-level outcomes that align with national expectations.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Church Road, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL9 9AZ |
| Headteacher | Stuart Koehler-Lewis |
| Local Authority | Plymouth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,607 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,607 / 1,680 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.00)
1513th of 3,141
Nationally
147th of 306
In South West
7th of 18
In Plymouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
37.5
'22/23
34.8
'23/24
33.6
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
2022/2341%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 254 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)41%
- FE college38%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained2%
98% 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
2022/2351%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 81 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
18%
Russell Group
18%
Top-third HE
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)51%
- Employment32%
- Further education5%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained4%
- Other education1%
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- Psychology30
- Sociology16
- Biology14
- Geography13
- History13
- Mathematics13
- Computer Studies / Computing12
- Physical Education / Sports Studies11
- Religious Studies11
- English Language and Literature10
- Chemistry9
- English Literature8
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed200
379
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
154 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% 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 British87.5%
- White (other)4.5%
- Mixed2.7%
- Asian1.5%
- Black0.2%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Plymstock School
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
Church Road, Plymouth
Plymouth, PL9 9AZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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