Hele's School, Plymouth

In its own words: "Hele's School teaches British Values through the curriculum and supplements this through assemblies and a tutoring programme. Respect our democracy and show support for participation in the democratic processes Develop an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process."

In 2026, pupils at Hele's School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 52.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.3 in Plymouth and 47 across England.

64% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Plymouth and 47% in England.

That is up from 50.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.09: pupils made about 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 46.2, against 54.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 279 families put Hele's School as their first choice and 554 named it as one of their preferences, for 233 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 53 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Hele's School are Plympton Academy (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 45.8); Tor Bridge High (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.8); Plymstock School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51); and Lipson Co-operative Academy (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.6).

Hele's School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Hele's 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.

Of the 232 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 76% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 35% to a further education college, 13% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 94 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 49% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 35% into work. 7% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

16% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Hele's School.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Skewbridge (w-bound), 310 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hele's School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 60 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Plymouth (196).

In 2024/25, Hele's School issued 206 suspensions, 14.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Hele's School are Boringdon Primary School (0.3 miles), St Mary's Priory CofE Infant & Nursery School (0.4 miles), Woodford Primary School (0.4 miles) and St Mary's Priory Junior School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.