Torquay Boys' Grammar School
95%
Capacity
1,100
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' Grammar School’s Progress 8 score of 0.34 places it firmly above the Torbay local authority average of -0.4, a gap of 0.74 that marks it out as a significantly stronger performer than most secondary schools in the area. This positive score means pupils here make about a third of a grade more progress per subject than the national average, while the typical school in Torbay sees pupils fall behind. The school ranks second out of nine state secondaries in the authority, just behind Torquay Girls' Grammar School (0.37), and sits in the top 25% nationally. Its attainment 8 score of 66.9 is high, and nearly nine in ten pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school is selective in practice — 62.2% of pupils entered the EBacc, and 53.2% achieved it at grade 5 or above — reflecting an academic intake that is already strong.
Ofsted rated the school Good overall in its most recent inspection in 2021, with all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and sixth-form provision judged Good. This represents a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2007, but the inspectors noted no specific weaknesses. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.11 is classed as Average, with pupils achieving an average grade of B- per entry. The best three A-levels averaged B- as well, and 29.6% of entries were at AAB or higher. The sixth form is a formal part of the school, and with 71 pupils in the data, it is a sizeable cohort. The school’s Progress 8 banding is ‘Above average’, and its strongest progress is in open subjects (0.43) and EBacc subjects (0.41), with maths also strong at 0.33.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 351 applications for 166 places, with 224 first-preference applications and 163 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.11. Facilities are extensive and include a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, science labs, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, cricket, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and debating to coding and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autism, hearing and visual impairments, and speech and language difficulties. With just 5.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less diverse socioeconomically than many local schools. This is a strong choice for academically able boys who thrive in a structured, high-expectation environment and are likely to aim for university.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Shiphay Manor Drive, Torquay, Torbay, TQ2 7EL |
| Headteacher | James Hunt |
| Local Authority | Torbay |
| Number of Pupils | 1,100 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 5.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,100 / 1,160 (95% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Sept 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.34)
763rd of 3,141
Nationally
56th of 306
In South West
2nd of 9
In Torbay
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
40.7
'22/23
37.8
'23/24
37.6
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
2022/2380%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 148 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)80%
- FE college14%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 149 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
45%
Russell Group
52%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)62%
- Employment21%
- Not sustained13%
- Apprenticeship3%
- 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- Mathematics59
- Economics39
- Physics37
- Biology34
- Geography28
- Chemistry27
- Business Studies:Single18
- History18
- Mathematics (Further)15
- Computer Studies / Computing11
- English Literature10
- Physical Education / Sports Studies8
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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed166
351
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
224 families put this school as their 1st choice (64% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:30
Source: tbgs.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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British75.7%
- White (other)6.0%
- Asian5.6%
- Mixed4.9%
- Black0.1%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
5
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 Boys' Grammar 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
Shiphay Manor Drive, Torquay
Torbay, TQ2 7EL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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