Stoke Damerel Primary Academy

About Stoke Damerel Primary Academy

Stoke Damerel Primary Academy is a mixed state primary in Plymouth that currently educates 399 pupils against a capacity of 420, meaning it is running close to full but with a small amount of headroom. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: 24.6 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a national primary average of around 23 per cent. Demand for places is strong. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 86 applications for 47 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.83, and made 43 offers to first-preference families. That level of competition suggests it is a popular choice locally, even though it is not the highest-ranked school in Plymouth. The school has no religious character and does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form, so it is a straightforward primary option for families looking for a four-to-eleven route.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted across all categories in its most recent inspection in 2021, and it has maintained that grade since at least 2012. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 62 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just below the Plymouth local authority average of 63 per cent. Results were stronger in writing, where 80 per cent met expectations, and maths, where 73 per cent did. Higher-standard attainment was more modest: 10 per cent achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects, and 23 per cent did so in maths. Average scaled scores were 105 in both reading and maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the 53rd percentile for combined expected standard, placing it in the bottom half of schools nationally but around the middle of the South West region. In Plymouth, it sits 39th out of 65 primaries.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including music rooms, an ICT suite, a gymnasium, a sports hall, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, football, cricket, swimming and dance, and there are clubs for drama, gardening and choir. SEND support is broad, with provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children require additional support within a mainstream setting. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Mayflower Academy, 2.1 km away, so for families who prioritise a Good school with strong local demand and a wide SEND offer, Stoke Damerel is a realistic and well-subscribed option.

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