Schools by area › Plymouth › Hele's School
Hele's School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Seymour Road, Plympton, Plymouth PL7 4LT · heles.plymouth.sch.uk · 01752 337193
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Mar 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 50.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Plymouth 45.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,378
- 29 over 1,349 places · 102%
- Local authority
- Plymouth
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 17.1%
- First language not English
- 3.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 279 families put the school first and 233 places were offered; 81% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 233 | 279 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 230 | 267 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 234 | 284 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 234 | 227 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 232 | 260 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.7, and 54.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Plymouth it was 45.7, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (33.7 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲50.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲54.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲75.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲57.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.72 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 40.5 | +1.7 |
| Sixth form college | 0.4 | — |
| Further education | 34.5 | −7.7 |
| Other education | 0.4 | −1.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 12.5 | +0.8 |
| Employment | 2.2 | +0.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.9 | +5 |
| Activity not captured | 2.6 | +1.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111 students | C+ (33.7) | Average +0.05 | |
| 111 students | C+ (33.7) | Average +0.04 | |
| 52 students | Dist- (32.6) | Average +0.13 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 85 | C (31.6) | -0.07 |
| 2022/23 | 83 | C (30.3) | — |
| 2021/22 | 90 | B- (36.5) | — |
| 2018/19 | 116 | C (30.6) | +0.13 |
| 2017/18 | 109 | C (28.7) | -0.10 |
| 2016/17 | 118 | C- (27.6) | +0.01 |
| 2015/16 | 91 | C (29.4) | -0.20 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 48.9 | −3.7 |
| Further education | 1.1 | −2 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.3 | −8.1 |
| Employment | 35.1 | +10.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.6 | +3.4 |
| Activity not captured | 1.1 | +0.1 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 23 March 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for Hele's School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 22 Mar 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2017
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective May 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
90% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (227 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 90%
- Replies
- 227
- 17% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 79% who raised concerns
based on the 41% who had a child bullied
based on 50 parents (22%) with SEND