Plympton Academy, Plymouth

In its own words: "At Plympton Academy, we believe that education is about more than just academics - it’s about personal growth, exploring new possibilities, and embracing the diverse perspectives that shape our world. In our Academy, individuals are equipped to take pride in their achievements and pursue their dreams. Plympton Academy is the cornerstone of a thriving community that is stronger through collaboration."

In 2026, pupils at Plympton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.3 in Plymouth and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Plymouth and 47% in England.

That is up from 43.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.39: pupils made below 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 42.5, against 46.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 4.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 17 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 91 families put Plympton Academy as their first choice and 249 named it as one of their preferences, for 110 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 secondary schools to Plympton Academy are Hele's School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.4); Plymstock School (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51); Coombe Dean School (2.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.6); and Tor Bridge High (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.8).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Plympton Academy.

Plympton Academy is one of 26 schools run by The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.9 in 2024/25.

Of the 197 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

Of the 71 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 38% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 34% into work. 3% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 45 pupils (4.6%) received SEN support and 32 (3.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Plympton Academy.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ridgeway Academy (n-bound), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 78 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Plymouth (196).

In 2024/25, Plympton Academy issued 321 suspensions, 29.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Plympton Academy are St Mary's Priory Junior School (0.3 miles), St Mary's Priory CofE Infant & Nursery School (0.4 miles), Boringdon Primary School (0.6 miles) and Plympton St Maurice Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.