Coombe Dean School, Plymouth

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Coombe Dean School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders, with the support of the trust, have ensured that the curriculum is broad, ambitious and high quality across all subjects."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "There is an inclusive culture within the school."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils across all years learn the intended curriculum effectively and are ready for their next stage of education."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders set high expectations for attendance."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "School and trust leaders, along with those responsible for governance, have a clear ambition to provide a high-quality education for all pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a personal, social and health curriculum that prepares pupils well for adult life."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that the post-16 curriculum is delivered to the same high standard as the other key stages."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the personal development curriculum enables pupils to recall their learning about relationships, healthy lifestyles, cultures and religions, so that they are well prepared for adult life"; "Leaders should further embed the effective teaching strategies they have introduced, so that pupils' achievement continues to rise"; "Those responsible for governance should ensure that they robustly support and challenge leaders across all aspects of the school's work".

In its own words: "At Coombe Dean we believe in Community, Integrity, Opportunity, and we work hard to ensure that these values are at the heart of everything we do. Coombe Dean School is part of Westcountry Schools Trust."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I have had the privilege of being part of this community for nearly 18 years, and it is a genuine honour to now serve as Headteacher. Coombe Dean is a place I care about deeply. The school's values, its people, and its purpose have shaped my professional journey- and I am proud to represent both its continuity and its future."

In 2026, pupils at Coombe Dean School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.3 in Plymouth and 47 across England.

48% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Plymouth and 47% in England.

That is down from 49.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.16: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 38.4, against 48.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 262 families put Coombe Dean School as their first choice and 517 named it as one of their preferences, for 170 places offered. That is 1.5 first choices for every place. 95 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Coombe Dean School are Plymstock School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51); Lipson Co-operative Academy (2.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.6); Plympton Academy (2.6 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 45.8); and Hele's School (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.4).

Coombe Dean School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Coombe Dean School is one of 31 schools run by Westcountry Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.4 in 2024/25.

155 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Coombe Dean School (as of April 2026): 93% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 78% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (78%).

Of the 152 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 43% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 81 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 53% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 30% into work. 10% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 92 pupils (9.2%) received SEN support and 48 (4.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

The nearest railway station is Plymouth Rail Station, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Coombe Dean School (nw-bound), 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 35 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, other theft and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Plymouth (196).

In 2024/25, Coombe Dean School issued 70 suspensions, 7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Coombe Dean School are Goosewell Primary Academy (0.3 miles), Elburton Primary School (0.6 miles), Pomphlett Primary School (1 mile) and Sherford Vale School & Nursery (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.