Torquay Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 January 2025

There are high expectations of pupils who attend Torquay Academy. The school is ambitious for all pupils and is relentless in its drive to ensure pupils are ready for the next stage of their education. The vast majority of pupils behave very well and many achieve highly. Pupils are proud to attend their school. They value the way that academic rigour is balanced with fun and wider opportunities. This helps them to become confident and resilient. The school's curriculum is broad and meticulously planned. Pupils enjoy and achieve well in sports and creative arts subjects, alongside a strong academic core. They are supported to read widely and often, including learning about different cultures and important issues outside of the main curriculum. The school's mantra of 'every second counts' is understood and lived out by staff and pupils, including students in the sixth form. Alongside their academic studies, the school offers pupils an exceptionally wide range of extra-curricular opportunities. As well as elite 'academies' in sports, music, performing arts and academic study, the school offers clubs, such as robotics, yoga and archaeology. Many pupils participate in the Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh Award, effectively developing pupils' talents and interests.

What the school should improve

• Staff do not consistently ensure that pupils' written work is completed as intended. This means that some pupils are not demonstrating their learning with accuracy and care when writing or developing their answers and ideas fully. The school must ensure the quality of pupils' written work is completed to the high standards expected by staff, so that more pupils complete this as intended: accurately and, when required, at length.

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