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Coombe Dean School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Charnhill Way, Elburton, Plymouth PL9 8ES · coombedean.co.uk · 01752 406961

On the mapSearch near PL9 8ES

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
49.2
average Attainment 8 score. Plymouth 45.7, England 46
Demand for places
1.5
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,000
85% of 1,180 places
Local authority
Plymouth
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
19%
First language not English
14%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Westcountry Schools Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 262 families put the school first and 170 places were offered; 64% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 109 (Places 149)109September 2023: 166 (Places 175)166September 2024: 193 (Places 175)193September 2025: 236 (Places 169)236September 2026: 262 (Places 170)262Places 170
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261702621.5▲64%
September 2025Sept 20251692361.4▲70%
September 2024Sept 20241751931.1▲87%
September 2023Sept 20231751660.998%
September 2022Sept 20221491090.7100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 49.2, and 48.5% 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+ (34.8 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 46.7 (England 46.3)46.72017/18: 43.9 (England 46.5)43.92018/19: 46.5 (England 46.7)46.52021/22: 49.0 (England 48.8)49.02022/23: 45.1 (England 46.3)45.12023/24: 48.6 (England 45.9)48.62024/25: 49.2 (England 46.0)49.2England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲49.246.0
▲48.5%45.4%
▲76.3%64.8%
▲47.3%40.5%
▲4.464.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form43.4−9.1
Further education42.8+9.5
Apprenticeship5.3+0.4
Employment1.3−1.2
Not in a lasting destination4.6+0.3
Activity not captured2.6+1.4

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 25.9 (England 30.5)C-2016/17: 27.7 (England 31.1)C-2017/18: 25.6 (England 32.1)C-2018/19: 25.0 (England 32.9)D+2021/22: 29.2 (England 37.9)C2022/23: 27.0 (England 34.2)C-2023/24: 30.3 (England 34.4)C2024/25: 34.8 (England 35.0)C+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
51 studentsC+ (34.8)Above average +0.23
52 studentsC+ (34.6)Above average +0.24
39 studentsDist (35)Above average +0.38
25%AAB or better
93.1%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2470C (30.3)-0.06
2022/2375C- (27)—
2021/2263C (29.2)—
2018/1958D+ (25)-0.07
2017/1857C- (25.6)-0.31
2016/1784C- (27.7)+0.22
2015/1692C- (25.9)-0.24

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University53.1+4.3
Further education3.7−3.5
Apprenticeship3.7−3.4
Employment29.6+11.7
Not in a lasting destination7.4−5.7
Activity not captured2.5−3.5

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Coombe Dean School on 3 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
3 Mar 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and well-beingExpected standard
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2022

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Mar 2022Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Nov 2018Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Sept 2012Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Mar 2009Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

93% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (155 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
93%
Positive
89%
Replies
155
16% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▲90% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe▲90% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▲88% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▲89% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well▲91% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▲83% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲84% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 90% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲68% agreeEngland 43%

based on 37 parents (24%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲75% agreeEngland 63%

based on 48 parents (31%) with SEND

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