Paignton Academy

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 16

Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Waterleat Road, Paignton, TQ3 3WAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Paignton Academy is a secondary school in Paignton for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 45 schools in Torbay. It ranks 7th of 8 secondary schools in Torbay. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 3 December 2024, report published 12 January 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes: Requires improvement
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Requires improvement
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

264 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score36.9

36.9, 9.2 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths24.6%

24.6%, 20.8 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths41.3%

41.3%, 23.5 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc8.3%

8.3%, 32.2 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score2.99

2.99, 1.1 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,568 pupils on roll, with places for 1,590

Eligible for free school meals34.1%

34.1%, 7.6 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language6.5%

6.5%, 15.1 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support17.9%

17.9%, 3.1 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5%

5%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Paignton Academy

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy	3 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 71.2
Torquay Boys' Grammar School	3 miles	Report card: Expected standard to strong standard	Attainment 8: 70.8
Torquay Girls' Grammar School	4 miles	Ofsted: Outstanding	Attainment 8: 68.6
Torquay Academy	4 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 47.6
The Spires College	4 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 44.5

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Age range: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Mr Derwyn Williams
Phone: 01803403005
Website: paigntonacademy.org (opens in a new tab)
Address: Waterleat Road, Paignton, TQ3 3WA
Local authority: Torbay
URN: 138863

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.