Lipson Vale Primary School, Plymouth

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Lipson Vale Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Typically, pupils progress well through the reading, writing and mathematics curriculums."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed and strengthened the school's curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "School leaders have prioritised the early years over the last few years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear strategy to provide pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those previously known to social care with a high-quality education."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders at Lipson Vale have a deep understanding of the community they serve."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that the school's personal development programme is coherent, broad and ambitious."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders and staff promote positive attendance."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders must ensure that staff receive the training they need to consistently apply the school's behaviour policy so that pupils behave well both inside and outside the classroom"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching consistently supports pupils to deepen their knowledge across subjects so they are well placed to achieve the higher standard"; "Leaders should continue to develop the expertise of staff in the early years so that they provide children with learning activities that develop their knowledge, understanding and skills beyond the classroom".

In its own words: "Pupils, staff and families at Lipson Vale Primary School worked together on identifying 6 core values that underpin our approach to teaching and learning, behaviour management and policies. Through this vision, we have a renewed commitment and focus on our local community and providing an educational environment with develops resilient learners who have high aspirations for their futures."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Lipson Vale Primary School is a very special place to learn. We believe passionately in being at the very heart of our community and ensuring that all teaching and learning meet the diverse needs of the community we serve. We are a popular school that accommodates 420 children from the Reception year through to Year 6."

In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at Lipson Vale Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Plymouth and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 67% in reading and 60% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Lipson Vale Primary School as their first choice and 75 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Lipson Vale Primary School are Salisbury Road Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 81% maths); Laira Green Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 72% reading, 64% maths); High View School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 78% reading, 80% maths); and Prince Rock Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 90% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Lipson Vale Primary School.

The nearest railway station is Plymouth Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lipson Vale Park (w-bound), 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 571 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Plymouth (196), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Lipson Vale Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Lipson Vale Primary School are Lipson Co-operative Academy (under 0.1 miles) and Plymouth High School for Girls (0.8 miles).