Millbay Academy
22 Millbay Road, Plymouth, PL1 3EGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Millbay Academy is a secondary school in Plymouth for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 103 schools in Plymouth. It ranks 14th of 18 secondary schools in Plymouth. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 27 February 2024, report published 24 April 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 27 February 2024
Millbay Academy has been through a period of transformation. Staff are aspirational for what pupils have the potential to achieve, whatever their needs or the wider challenges they may face. From when children join in the early years, staff ensure the curriculum provides no limits or barriers to their future success. The school's motto of 'think like a creative' is understood and valued by staff and pupils. Together, they are proud to belong to this culturally-diverse community. Pupils exude kindness. They speak to staff and visitors with warmth and respect. They hold doors open and are extremely polite. Many pupils join at different points of the school year. Whenever they join, each new pupil gets the help they need to settle in swiftly. Pupils talk animatedly about their enjoyment of school. Parents echo this positive view. Staff and pupils enjoy caring, trusting relationships. Pupils talk to staff about any concerns or worries they have. This helps them to be safe. Pupils have a strong voice in changes that are made at the school. This starts at primary with the pupil parliament and continues as pupils move up through the school. The school provides a wide set of rich experiences which many pupils take part in. Many join clubs to learn new skills, such as Japanese, chess, basketball and breakdancing.
What the school should improve
- In the secondary phase, some pupils miss a significant amount of learning time due to being absent from school. This includes absence due to suspension. As a result, pupils develop gaps in their knowledge and find returning to school difficult. The school should further develop their work with pupils and their families to overcome any barriers that prevent them from attending school regularly.
- Staff are not always aware of where the strongest practice exists in the school to help them plan and teach the curriculum, particularly between the primary and secondary phases. Therefore, there is variability in how well the curriculum is taught and the impact that it has on pupils' learning. The school should share the best practice that exists, so that all pupils benefit from a high-quality experience.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
21 pupils took the tests
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
84 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
526 pupils on roll, with places for 600
Schools near Millbay Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devonport High School for Boys | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 69.3 |
| Stoke Damerel Community College | 0.9 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 35.9 |
| Scott Medical and Healthcare College | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 43.5 |
| Plymouth High School for Girls | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 65.5 |
| UTC Plymouth | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 36.4 |
School details
- School type
- Free schools
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- REACH SOUTH ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Bisco
- Phone
- 01752221927
- Address
- 22 Millbay Road, Plymouth, PL1 3EG
- Local authority
- Plymouth
- URN
- 147905
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.