Pennycross Primary School, Plymouth
Pennycross Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Plymouth. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 7 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2016. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 10th-highest of the 73 schools in Plymouth with published results, and 2,457th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted report card
- 0 of 7 areas strong or better
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Plymouth (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Pennycross Primary School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Pennycross Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Expected standard. "Published outcomes in national tests show that teaching is typically effective."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils enjoy school and attend regularly."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have strengthened the curriculum offer in recent years."
Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders are ambitious for all pupils."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders care deeply about the school and the community they serve."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's personal development programme is effective."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is consistently well designed and implemented effectively, and that staff ensure learning activities build on what pupils with SEND know and can do, so that all pupils achieve well".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Pennycross Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Pennycross Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Plymouth and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 60% in reading and 58% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Pennycross Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 50 families put Pennycross Primary School as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 52 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Pennycross Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Pennycross Primary School are Montpelier Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 76% reading, 69% maths); Mayflower Academy (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 92% reading, 95% maths); Manadon Vale Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); and Shakespeare Primary School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, 65% reading, 54% maths).
Pennycross Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Montpelier Primary SchoolMayflower AcademyManadon Vale Primary SchoolShakespeare Primary School
Who goes there
11.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and other ethnic groups (6%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Keyham Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
26 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Arden Grove (se-bound), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Pennycross Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Pennycross Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Pennycross Primary School are Devonport High School for Girls (0.4 miles), All Saints Church of England Academy (0.4 miles), St Boniface's RC College (0.9 miles) and Marine Academy Plymouth (1.2 miles).
Devonport High School for GirlsAll Saints Church of England AcademySt Boniface's RC CollegeMarine Academy Plymouth
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Early yearsExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Pennycross Primary School
Pennycross is an inclusive school. Pupils experience a deep sense of belonging as soon as they join. They are proud of their school and their community. Pupils describe the school as friendly and welcoming for everyone. Tolerance, inclusion and equity are at the forefront of every decision made. The school is proud of its award as a School of Sanctuary for supporting pupils experiencing hardship, including refugees. Pupils enjoy coming to school and this is reflected in their high attendance. Staff greet pupils warmly at the start of every day. They take time to get to know every child. Pupils feel safe knowing that staff are there for them. They know staff will deal promptly and effectively with any concerns they may have. Pupils are clear that bullying does not happen and know that it would be addressed swiftly if it did. Behaviour throughout the school is typically calm. Pupils are polite and respond well to staff. Lunchtime is a positive and sociable experience. Pupils interact well and show respect for one another. Older pupils thrive in their ambassador roles and other leadership opportunities. Pupils speak positively about the wider curriculum offer, particularly the residential trips. Year 6 pupils are ready to move on to the next stage of their education. Overall, pupils are well prepared for their next steps in education and in life. Children get off to a positive start in the Reception class. Any barriers to learning which pupils may face are identified quickly. Pupils learn a broad curriculum. It is carefully organised so that pupils build their knowledge over time. There is a sharp focus on ensuring pupils master the fundamental knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics. Typically, pupils achieve well. This includes disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is consistently well designed and implemented effectively, and that staff ensure learning activities build on what pupils with SEND know and can do, so that all pupils achieve well.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 28 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Pennycross is a welcoming, inclusive school where every child feels they belong. The school excels at supporting disadvantaged pupils and refugees, with strong early years provision and effective phonics teaching that helps all pupils catch up quickly. Staff build warm relationships with families and create a calm, orderly environment where pupils thrive.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics teaching and early identification of gaps in core skills, with effective catch-up support
- Excellent support for disadvantaged pupils, narrowing the attainment gap with their peers
- Warm, inclusive culture with high attendance and positive pupil behaviour, with well-embedded morning routines
- Experienced early years staff who build strong foundations and partnerships with families
- Effective leadership committed to supporting refugees and vulnerable pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum adaptations for pupils with SEND are not consistently effective, particularly for those whose core skills are not yet secure
- Education, health and care plan targets are not always precisely aligned to pupil needs for a small minority
- Some younger pupils require further support to sustain consistent focus on learning
- A small number of early years children do not secure essential basic skills needed for Year 1
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Enrichment activities, leadership roles, community visitors, school events including 'The Field Gun' and 'Plymouth marathon', online safety education
Pennycross Primary School is an inclusive school where pupils experience a deep sense of belonging and are proud of their community. The school has strengthened its curriculum offer and demonstrates a relentless focus on supporting disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
27.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 60% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 58% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 70% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.0
Avg class size
28.6
Infant (KS1)
29.3
KS2
13
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Pennycross Primary School
Before and after school care
Pennycross Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Plymouth
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Pennycross Primary School.
- High 5 After School Montpelier600m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Pennycross Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Pennycross Primary School is in Plymouth; for families living there:
Apply to Plymouth for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Plymouth is 22 (the median across 107 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Pennycross Primary School
Will you get a place at Pennycross Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Pennycross Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Pennycross Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Pennycross Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Plymouth, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Pennycross Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Plymouth got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
419 pupils
420 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Plymouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Plymouth
Across Plymouth council
Places available
3,035
Applications
2,294
Got 1st preference
93.5%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All primary applications across Plymouth council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
62
SEN Support
18
EHC Plans
19.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
402
Total Pupils
201
Boys
201
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
19.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,306
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,494
Per pupil
£2585k
Total funding
£167k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
12.5%
Persistent absence
375
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Pennycross Primary School
What are SATs results like at Pennycross Primary School?
Of the pupils at Pennycross Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Pennycross Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Pennycross Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Pennycross Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Pennycross Primary School is oversubscribed, Plymouth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Pennycross Primary School?
Pennycross Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Pennycross Primary School?
Classes at Pennycross Primary School average 29 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Pennycross Primary School?
Pennycross Primary School has around 402 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Pennycross Primary School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Pennycross Primary School in 2024/25. 12.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Pennycross Primary School?
Apply through Plymouth's coordinated admissions process, naming Pennycross Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Pennycross Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Pennycross Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Pennycross Primary School: High 5 After School Montpelier (600m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Pennycross Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Plymouth is 22 (the median across 107 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Pennycross Primary School?
Pennycross Primary School is at Arden Grove, Pennycross, Plymouth, Devon, PL2 3RL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)