Plympton Academy

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 18
Ofsted: Requires improvement

Moorland Road, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 2RSOpen in maps

Plympton Academy is a secondary school in Plymouth for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 103 schools in Plymouth. It ranks 12th of 18 secondary schools in Plymouth. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in March 2024.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 19 March 2024, report published 15 May 2024

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Sixth form provision
Requires improvement
Safeguarding
Met

Read the full Ofsted report

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 March 2024

Most pupils enjoy their learning and have positive attitudes towards school. The school has recently raised its expectations of pupils' conduct. Most pupils now live up to these. They follow routines well and behave well in lessons. Low-level disruption is not tolerated. As a result, the school has a calm and orderly atmosphere. Pupils are safe. The school promotes equality and diversity well. For example, it recognises global days that champion the rights of groups protected in law. Sixth-form student leaders make an important and active contribution to the school's work in this area. Most relationships between pupils reflect the school's expectations of respectful and tolerant behaviour. Any discriminatory language is quickly challenged by the school and not allowed to spread. Pupils benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Some pupils participate in the performing arts, such as musicals, dance and choir. Other pupils enjoy sport and look forward to the annual 'sports personality' awards, for instance. Pupils develop their cooperation skills on their residential trip to the coast when they join the school. The school removes any barriers to ensure that pupils can take part in these opportunities.

What the school should improve

  • In many subjects, assessment is not used effectively. As a result, pupils have gaps in their knowledge and teaching does not consolidate their depth of understanding. The school and trust should ensure that teaching checks pupils' knowledge effectively and remedies gaps in their learning.
  • There is not an effective programme for pupils who need help to improve their reading fluency. This hinders their learning across the curriculum. The school and trust should ensure that there is a rigorous and sequential approach to reading, which develops pupils' fluency and confidence.
  • Some pupils' rates of absence remain persistently high. The school and trust must maintain their sharp focus on reducing rates of absence and further understand causes of absence. They must continue to devise, and persist with, effective strategies that secure sustained improvement in pupils' attendance.

Read the full Ofsted report

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

194 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score43.1

43.1, 3 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths43.8%

43.8%, 1.6 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths66.5%

66.5%, 1.7 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc11.9%

11.9%, 28.6 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.57

3.57, 0.52 below the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

42 students

Average point score per A level entry28.45

28.45, 6.55 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

984 pupils on roll, with places for 1,350

Eligible for free school meals21.2%

21.2%, 5.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language2.1%

2.1%, 19.5 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support4.6%

4.6%, 10.2 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.3%

3.3%, 2.7 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Plympton Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Hele's School0.7 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 50.7
Plymstock School2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 47.3
Coombe Dean School3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 49.2
Tor Bridge High3 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 40.4
Lipson Co-operative Academy3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 43.5

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Shaun Willis
Phone
03333602220
Website
plympton.academy
Address
Moorland Road, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 2RS
Local authority
Plymouth
URN
136556

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.