University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth
University of St Mark & St John is a school for pupils in Plymouth.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
University of St Mark & St John in detail
University of St Mark & St John in its own words
In its own words: "Our Values are at the heart of everything we do. They were developed by our staff, are inspired by the stories of our students, by our history and by our hopes and ambitions for the future. They encourage both the ability and the aspiration to improve lives for all ."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, tennis, gymnastics, basketball, badminton, swimming and dance.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Plymouth Rail Station, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marjon (entrance), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 127 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Plymouth (196).
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
University of St Mark & St John provides high-quality, practical apprenticeships that connect real-world learning to workplace needs. Apprentices particularly value the structured support, expert mentoring, and welcoming culture that help them build confidence and develop independence. The institution excels at using specialist resources and realistic assessments to help apprentices develop the practical skills and confidence they need to succeed in their professional roles.
Key Strengths
- Strong partnerships with employers to develop relevant curriculum pathways that meet real workforce needs
- High-quality practical learning resources, including simulation suites with interactive mannequins for nursing practice
- Excellent support for apprentices, including those with SEND, with personalised teaching and a respectful, inclusive culture
- Effective mentoring and feedback from lecturers and coaches that builds apprentice confidence and independence
- Vocational assessment methods that reflect real workplace tasks and professional roles
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching strategies are not consistently effective across all sessions - some apprentices don't fully benefit from group activities
- Lecturers could make better use of questioning techniques to help apprentices consolidate their understanding
- Oversight of teaching quality is not consistently well developed across different programme pathways
- Careers guidance needs to be strengthened so apprentices understand all progression options available after their programme
- Professional development for staff could be better aligned with identified improvement priorities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
University of St Mark & St John is a higher education institution with two campuses in Plymouth and Truro, offering apprenticeships in nursing, youth work, and healthcare. The institution was rated as Good overall across all quality measures in its first Ofsted inspection.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from University of St Mark & St John
Temporary campus closure due to water supply: Wednesday 30 September 2026
30 Sep 2026
Marjon ranked No.1 in the UK for first-generation students
29 Sep 2026
Plymouth Marjon named University of the Year for Social Inclusion
18 Sep 2026
From Atlantic rower to University Chancellor: Plymouth-born adventurer returns to inspire the next generation
15 Sep 2026
New SEND School for City based at Plymouth Marjon University
7 Sep 2026
First in family to attend university, Marjon student achieves First-Class Honours
20 Aug 2026
From University of St Mark & St John's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with University of St Mark & St John
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 16 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
2 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
Capacity & Demand
Across Plymouth council
Places available
3,165
Applications
2,761
Got 1st preference
91.7%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All secondary applications across Plymouth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
Questions parents ask about University of St Mark & St John
What is the catchment area for University of St Mark & St John?
No fixed boundary. When University of St Mark & St John is oversubscribed, Plymouth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to University of St Mark & St John?
Apply through Plymouth's coordinated admissions process, naming University of St Mark & St John on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near University of St Mark & St John?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 16 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 2 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 University of St Mark & St John?
University of St Mark & St John is at Derriford Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)