Stuart Road Primary Academy

About Stuart Road Primary Academy

Stuart Road Primary Academy has strong signals from the families who know it best. In the most recent admissions round for the 2025/26 school year, the school was oversubscribed, receiving 34 applications for just 12 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.83. All 12 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that for those who put it top of their list, it was a realistic choice. The school is a state primary for mixed genders, serving children aged 3 to 11 in Plymouth, and has a nursery provision on site. With 186 pupils against a capacity of 210, it is not at full roll, but the oversubscription figures indicate steady local demand. The headteacher is Britta Nicholls, and the school has no religious character. A significant 30.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably above the national average and gives some context to the school's inclusive, community-focused intake.

Academically, Stuart Road performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Plymouth LA average of 63%. This places the school 10th out of 65 primary schools in the local authority, putting it in the top 25% regionally and in the top 12% nationally. The average scaled scores in reading and maths were both 106, and the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading was 24%, with 21% in both maths and writing. Ofsted last inspected the school in a graded visit in 2012, awarding an overall effectiveness of Good, and a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Good. The previous inspection in 2010 had rated it Requires Improvement, so the trajectory is clearly positive.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a sports hall, music rooms, an ICT suite, art studios, a sensory room, and a forest school, which supports outdoor learning. Sports on offer include dance, cross country, athletics and rounders, and clubs range from gardening and eco club to drama and film club. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Mayflower Academy, 2.2 km away. Stuart Road is a solid, well-regarded local option for Plymouth families who want a school that is strong on core academic outcomes, has a clear sense of community, and offers a good range of enrichment activities without being oversubscribed to the point of being inaccessible.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Stuart Road Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents