Plymouth’s state schools get better results than 72% of towns in England
At Plymouth’s secondaries, 52% of pupils reach grade 5 in both English and maths, above both Devon’s towns (46%) and towns in England (45%). 99 state-funded schools are located in Plymouth’s built-up area. Plymouth grades B+ for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #9 of 47 in Devon. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Devonport High School for Boys, Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls admit pupils by a test at 11. Their results count in Plymouth’s School Grade, as they are state schools many local children attend. After 16 ↓
Mayflower beats its intake
Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Mayflower Academy, 40% of pupils are on free school meals and 82% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 57%. Results and intake ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
School Grade
Plymouth grades B+ for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (64% meet the standard)Better than 64% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (48.6 and 52%)Better than 71% of towns in England
Each of Plymouth’s 67 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)
Each of Plymouth’s 17 secondaries: Attainment 8 (2025/26)
England’s average schoolPlymouth’s average school
The primary figure: 68 primaries in the town, 9,050 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 17 secondaries in the town, 2,629 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Map
Where Plymouth’s 99 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Plymouth’s built-up area.
PrimarySecondarySpecial, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.
Results and intake
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals
Secondaries: Attainment 8 against free school meals
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 4% at Hyde Park Infants' School to 56% at Millbay Academy. Against schools with the same intake, Mayflower Academy does best: 82% with 40% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 57%. 36 of 66 primaries and 7 of 16 secondaries are above the line.
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
Getting a place
How school places work in Plymouth
Plymouth Council handles applications for every state school in Plymouth, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 19 of Plymouth’s 87 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 14 schools are at or over it.
Mount Street incl. nursery120%
Devonport High School for Girls116%
Devonport High School for Boys112%
Ernesettle Community incl. nursery112%
Elburton incl. nursery110%
High View incl. nursery107%
Woodfield incl. nursery106%
Mayflower incl. nursery105%
Hele's102%
High Street incl. nursery102%
Show all 84 schools
Hooe incl. nursery101%
Mount Wise incl. nursery101%
Tor Bridge100%
Glen Park incl. nursery100%
Bickleigh Down99%
Compton98%
Lipson Co-operative98%
Manadon Vale98%
Marine Academy incl. nursery98%
Widey Court98%
Widewell97%
St Matthew's incl. nursery97%
Plymouth High School for Girls97%
St Boniface's97%
St Edward's incl. nursery97%
College Road97%
The Cathedral School of St Mary97%
Prince Rock incl. nursery96%
Pomphlett incl. nursery96%
Eggbuckland Vale incl. nursery96%
Pennycross96%
Montpelier95%
Woodford95%
Yealmpstone Farm95%
Salisbury Road94%
Lipson Vale94%
Hyde Park Junior93%
Boringdon incl. nursery92%
Stoke Damerel92%
Plaistow Hill incl. nursery92%
Eggbuckland Community College92%
St Peter's incl. nursery91%
Chaddlewood91%
Shakespeare incl. nursery91%
St Andrew's Cof E VA90%
Plymstock90%
St George's90%
Leigham incl. nursery89%
Thornbury89%
Morley Meadow incl. nursery89%
Stuart Road incl. nursery88%
Millbay88%
Holy Cross88%
Laira Green incl. nursery86%
Pilgrim86%
Plympton St Maurice85%
St Joseph's incl. nursery85%
Notre Dame85%
Coombe Dean85%
Morice Town incl. nursery84%
Victoria Road incl. nursery82%
Ford incl. nursery81%
Mary Dean's incl. nursery80%
Tor Bridge High80%
Oakwood79%
Oreston Community incl. nursery79%
Stoke Damerel Community College77%
Plympton73%
Hyde Park Infants'72%
Keyham Barton69%
Knowle incl. nursery65%
Drake65%
St Paul's Roman65%
Goosewell63%
St Mary's Priory Junior62%
Beechwood incl. nursery59%
Riverside incl. nursery59%
All Saints58%
Austin Farm51%
St Mary's Priory incl. nursery47%
Weston Mill Community incl. nursery44%
Marlborough incl. nursery42%
St Peter's36%
St Budeaux incl. nursery23%
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
The schools
99 state schools in Plymouth
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Letters of Plymouth’s schoolsA25B21C27D1115 without a letter
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Outstanding 7Good 30Report card 18Requires improvement 2Ungraded inspection only 42
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 18 of Plymouth’s 99 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
Run by
Schools
Pupils
Their letters
Learning Academies TrustElburton, Mayflower, Prince Rock, Pomphlett, Salisbury Road, Shakespeare, High View, Hyde Park Junior, Knowle, Mount Street, Mount Wise, Widewell, Woodfield, Hooe, Hyde Park Infants', Victoria Road, Ford, Plaistow Hill
18
5,310
AAA−A−A−C+A−C+B−B−C−C+CAD−C
Reach South Academy TrustUTC Plymouth, Millbay, Goosewell, Stoke Damerel, Pilgrim, ACE Schools Plymouth, High Street, Stuart Road, Morice Town, Drake, Marlborough, Courtlands, Mount Tamar
13
3,414
DBB−C+B+A−C+B−C−
Westcountry Schools TrustPlymstock, Hele's, Eggbuckland Community College, Coombe Dean, Glen Park, Woodford, Boringdon, Chaddlewood, Oreston Community, Morley Meadow, Plympton St Maurice, Austin Farm
12
7,362
B+A−B−BA+AB+ACB+B−C
Plymouth CASTNotre Dame, St Boniface's, Holy Cross, St Joseph's, Keyham Barton, St Paul's Roman, The Cathedral School of St Mary, St Peter's
8
2,088
C+DC−CBD−DD−
St Christopher's C of E (Primary) Multi Academy TrustSt Matthew's, St Edward's, St Peter's, St Mary's Priory Junior, St George's, St Mary's Priory
6
1,217
C+A−CBC+
Ted Wragg Multi Academy TrustLipson Co-operative, Tor Bridge High, Marine Academy Plymouth, All Saints, Marine Academy
5
4,415
B−B−B−DA
Greenshaw Learning TrustStoke Damerel Community College, Montpelier, Scott Medical and Healthcare College, Sir John Hunt Community Sports College, Whitleigh
5
2,147
DCCC−
Connect Academy TrustWidey Court, Manadon Vale, Eggbuckland Vale, Leigham, Thornbury
5
2,084
A−A−C+BD
Discovery Multi Academy TrustBeechwood, Oakwood, Weston Mill Community
3
668
DC−D−
Thinking Schools Academy TrustPlympton, Plymouth High School for Girls
2
1,766
B−A+
Inspire Multi Academy Trust (South West)Ernesettle Community, Tor Bridge
2
798
AA
First Federation TrustMary Dean's, St Budeaux
2
336
C−C
Devonport High School for Boys Academy TrustDevonport High School for Boys
1
1,300
A+
Devonport High School for GirlsDevonport High School for Girls
1
971
A+
South West Plymouth Education TrustCollege Road
1
204
C+
Plymouth CouncilCompton, Bickleigh Down, Pennycross, Lipson Vale, Riverside, Yealmpstone Farm, Laira Green, St Andrew's Cof E VA, Mill Ford, Longcause Community Special, Brook Green Centre for Learning, Cann Bridge, Woodlands, Ham Drive Nursery School and Day Care, Plym Bridge Nursery School and Day Care
15
3,375
AA−B−C−A−B−CA−
After 16
Where Plymouth’s teenagers go at 16
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
15 of Plymouth’s 17 state secondaries have sixth forms: Coombe Dean, Devonport High School for Boys, Devonport High School for Girls, Eggbuckland Community College, Hele's, Lipson Co-operative, Marine Academy Plymouth, Notre Dame, Plymouth High School for Girls, Plympton, Plymstock, Sir John Hunt Community Sports College, St Boniface's, Stoke Damerel Community College and Tor Bridge High. City College Plymouth, a further-education college, is in the city.
Secondaries with a sixth form
15 of 17
state schools in Plymouth
Colleges within 12 miles
1
nearest: City College Plymouth
Grammar schools in Plymouth
3
selective state secondaries
Special needs
Special schools and alternative provision in Plymouth
Plymouth has 7 special schools (Brook Green Centre for Learning, Cann Bridge, Courtlands, Longcause Community Special, Mill Ford, Mount Tamar and Woodlands: 687 pupils) and 1 alternative provision school, for pupils who can’t attend mainstream school for a time. A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Plymouth Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑
Plymouth Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.
Towns its size
28th of 45 English towns and cities of 187,000 to 360,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns and cities either side of Plymouth, and the top and bottom of the group.
Torpoint 3 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.6 mi
B−
63%
44.6
Sherford 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 3.8 mi
A
72%
49.4
Saltash 5 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.5 mi
C+
64%
41.7
Millbrook 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.9 mi
C
62%
39.4
Wembury 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 5.1 mi
B+
67%
46.6
Yealmpton 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 6.2 mi
A−
66%
—
Bere Alston 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 6.8 mi
C+
61%
—
Sherford has the best-graded schools nearby (A). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
•
Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
•
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Plymouth: 8% (England’s average school: 8%).
•
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
•
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
•
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
•
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
•
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
•
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Plymouth
Are schools in Plymouth good?
Plymouth’s state schools earn a B+ against schools across England: primary results beat 64% of towns in England; secondary results beat 71% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Plymouth council.
What is the best secondary school in Plymouth?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, Devonport High School for Girls: Attainment 8 of 74.9 and 97% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Plymouth?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, Glen Park Primary School: 86% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Plymouth secondary schools have sixth forms?
15 of 17 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Plymouth?
Through Plymouth Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in Plymouth are full?
14 of 84 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in Plymouth?
99 open state-funded schools are located in Plymouth’s built-up area: 70 primary, 17 secondary and 12 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
