Shakespeare Primary School, Plymouth

From the headteacher's welcome: "Shakespeare Primary School is a rapidly developing two form entry primary school, with our own nursery, that serves the west of Plymouth. With a new yet experienced, innovative and research driven leadership team at the helm, our school staff are raising standards at speed for our school community. Our school is located on extensive grounds with huge potential."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £3.00 per session.

On phones, the school says: "Mobile phones are to be silenced or switched off and can only be used in designated areas in our school."

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at Shakespeare Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 54% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Plymouth and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 71% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 34 families put Shakespeare Primary School as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 35 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 Shakespeare Primary School are Knowle Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 73% reading, 75% maths); St Peter's RC Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 65% reading, 59% maths); Woodfield Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths); and Whitleigh Community Primary School (0.9 miles).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Shakespeare Primary School.

Shakespeare Primary School is one of 18 schools run by Learning Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shakespeare Primary School (as of September 2025): 74% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 56% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (56%).

45.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 12.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Asian (5%).

In 2026, 96 pupils (25.2%) received SEN support and 15 (3.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is St Budeaux Ferry Road Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shakespeare Road (s-bound), 80 metres away.

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

In 2024/25, Shakespeare Primary School issued 28 suspensions, 7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Shakespeare Primary School are All Saints Church of England Academy (0.5 miles), Sir John Hunt Community Sports College (0.8 miles), Marine Academy Plymouth (0.9 miles) and St Boniface's RC College (0.9 miles).