Secondary school

Coombe Dean School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Plymouth
  • PL9 8ES
  • Sixth form
Ofsted report card · inspected Mar 2026

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,055 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 33%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 72%72%2016/17: top 46%2017/18: top 61%2018/19: top 48%2021/22: top 47%2022/23: top 54%2023/24: top 36%2024/25: top 33%No exams

A-level results

#105 of 224 South West sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against South West

Attainment 849.2 · South West 45.58/10 Above+13.7 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths48.5% · South West 44.2%7/10 Above+10 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score4.46 · South West 3.988/10 Above+11.4 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.16 · South West −0.027/10 Above+7.6 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry34.81 · South West 33.677/10 Above+55.7 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 46.7 · 151 pupils · South West 50.22016/17: 46.7 · 161 pupils · South West 45.62017/18: 43.9 · 158 pupils · South West 45.72018/19: 46.5 · 170 pupils · South West 45.82021/22: 49 · 162 pupils · South West 47.52022/23: 45.1 · 163 pupils · South West 45.42023/24: 48.6 · 152 pupils · South West 45.32024/25: 49.2 · 169 pupils · South West 45.4549.243.9No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 52% · 161 pupils · South West 39%2017/18: 40% · 158 pupils · South West 40%2018/19: 45% · 170 pupils · South West 39%2021/22: 48% · 162 pupils · South West 46%2022/23: 40% · 163 pupils · South West 42%2023/24: 53.3% · 152 pupils · South West 44.1%2024/25: 48.5% · 169 pupils · South West 44.2%53.3%40%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 25.94 · 92 pupils · South West 29.292016/17: 27.72 · 84 pupils · South West 30.032017/18: 25.58 · 57 pupils · South West 30.252018/19: 24.98 · 58 pupils · South West 31.572021/22: 29.16 · 63 pupils · South West 36.992022/23: 26.96 · 75 pupils · South West 33.142023/24: 30.25 · 70 pupils · South West 33.012024/25: 34.81 · 51 pupils · South West 33.6734.8124.98No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in63.7%
167 of 262 who put it first2014 · 96.8%2026 · 63.7%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st262167
2nd1662
3rd891

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2006–2026

  • InclusionStrong
  • AchievementExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingStrong
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected
  • Leadership and governanceExpected
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected
  • Post-16 provisionExpected
  • SafeguardingMet
  1. 2006Goodas predecessor
  2. 2009Outstandingas predecessor
  3. 2012Outstanding
  4. 2018Requires improvement
  5. 2022Good
  6. 2026Lowest Expected

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,000
Free school meals (past 6 years)20.7%
First language not English14.4%
SEN support12.3%
EHC plan3.9%
Absence (sessions missed)7.9%
Persistently absent pupils22.7%

Girls 43.1%Boys 56.9%

84.7% full · 1,180 places · 129 in sixth form

Parent View

As at 6 Apr 2026 · 155 responses (15.4% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school89.7% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school90.3% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved87.7% agree
  • Has your child been bullied at this school?23.9% yes
  • When the bullying took place the school dealt with it quickly and effectively · asked only of the 23.9% who said Yes above67.6% agree
  • Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?31% yes
  • The school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 31% who said Yes above75% agree
  • The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know90.3% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 9.7% had no concerns to raise84.3% agree
  • When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart83.2% agree
  • The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well89% agree
  • Would you recommend this school to another parent?92.9% yes
  • Your overall view of the school88.5% positive

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher19.7
Pupils per adult12.5
  • Classroom teachers 43.8
  • Leadership 7
  • Teaching assistants 13.5
  • Other support 41.7

Teachers 50.8 FTE · Whole workforce 106 · 136 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,849
Spend per pupil£7,438
Staff spend per pupil£5,779
Reserve per pupil£1,595
  • +£1,600,000revenue reserve
  • +£413,000in-year balance

Grants £7,518 · self-generated £331 · premises £508 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: WESTCOUNTRY SCHOOLS TRUST (31 academies) · trust reserve £8,026,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

152 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained92.8%
  • Education86.2%
  • Apprenticeship5.3%
  • Employment1.3%
  • Not sustained4.6%
  • Unknown2.6%

After sixth form (16–18)

81 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained90.1%
  • Education56.8%
  • Higher education53.1%
  • Apprenticeship3.7%
  • Employment29.6%
  • Not sustained7.4%
  • Unknown2.5%