Torquay Academy
104%
Capacity
1,453
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About Torquay Academy
Torquay Academy is a large mixed secondary school in Torbay, one of nine state secondaries in the local authority. It sits fourth in the LA rankings by Progress 8, placing it just outside the top three grammar schools that lead the area: Torquay Girls' Grammar School, Torquay Boys' Grammar School, and Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy. With 1,453 pupils on a capacity of 1,400, the school is clearly popular — for the 2025/26 intake it received 623 applications for 243 places, with 371 first-preference applications and 235 first-preference offers. The school has a sixth form and is non-denominational. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in January 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained, and the overall effectiveness remains Good. The previous graded inspection in June 2016 also rated it Good, a notable improvement from the Requires Improvement judgement it received in June 2014.
Academically, Torquay Academy delivers solid results that sit comfortably above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.03 is rated Average and compares very favourably with the Torbay LA average of -0.4, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than the national average while their peers across the authority tend to fall behind. Attainment 8 stands at 44.6, and 70.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is low at 3.1%, and the EBacc average point score is 3.67. At A-level, the school's value-added score is -0.33, which is rated Below average, with a points per entry of 26.23 (equivalent to a C- grade). The best three A-levels average out at C- as well. In the South West region, the school ranks 136th out of 306 schools on Progress 8, and nationally it sits at 1,444th out of 3,141.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, plus clubs from coding to Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provisions cover eight categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses from 136 parents are overwhelmingly positive: 89% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree or strongly agree that their child is happy (90%), feels safe (91%), and that the school has high expectations (92%). The school is oversubscribed at a ratio of 2.56 applicants per place, so families should be prepared for a competitive admissions process. This is a good fit for families in Torbay seeking a large, well-equipped state secondary with strong KS4 outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, though those prioritising top-tier A-level value-added or grammar-style EBacc depth may want to look at the nearby grammar schools.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Cricketfield Road, Torquay, Torbay, TQ2 7NU |
| Headteacher | Steve Margetts |
| Local Authority | Torbay |
| Number of Pupils | 1,453 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,453 / 1,400 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (8 Jan 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.03)
1444th of 3,141
Nationally
136th of 306
In South West
4th of 9
In Torbay
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
32.3
'22/23
29.5
'23/24
26.2
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
2022/2331%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 236 pupils).
- FE college47%
- School sixth form (stay)31%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship3%
89% 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
2022/2350%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 88 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
8%
Russell Group
10%
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)50%
- Employment27%
- Not sustained9%
- Other education6%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
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- Biology22
- English Literature15
- Geography15
- Mathematics15
- Chemistry12
- Design and Technology (Product Design)9
- Physics9
- Art and Design (Photography)4
- History4
- Media/Film/Tv Studies4
- Art and Design3
- Mathematics (Further)3
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.
Ofsted Parent View
136 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed243
623
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
371 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:20 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:30-08:10
Source: tqacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.3%
- White (other)6.2%
- Mixed4.0%
- Asian1.7%
- Black0.3%
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.
17
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
12
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 Torquay Academy
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
Cricketfield Road, Torquay
Torbay, TQ2 7NU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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