SchoolScoresHele's School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of WESTCOUNTRY SCHOOLS TRUST
Seymour Road, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 4LT
01752 337193 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 July 2017.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 23 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
237 pupils in this year group.
54% — 8 points above the Plymouth average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Plymouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 54% | 46% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 50.7 | 45.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
208 pupils in this year group.
95% — 4 points above the Plymouth average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Plymouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 95% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 56% | 40% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 1% | 13% |
| Further education college | 25% | 37% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 10% | 9% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 98% | 95% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
111 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Plymouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 17% | 22% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 49% | 51% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 33.7 | 34.4 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
21 subjects, 266 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 31 | 0% | 3% | 19% |
| Mathematics | 29 | 10% | 21% | 40% |
| History | 24 | 0% | 21% | 23% |
| Biology | 19 | 5% | 11% | 27% |
| Business Studies:Single | 18 | 0% | 11% | 16% |
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 18 | 0% | 0% | 14% |
| Physics | 15 | 0% | 13% | 31% |
| Geography | 13 | 0% | 15% | 23% |
| Sociology | 13 | 0% | 23% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 12 | 0% | 8% | 30% |
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 12 | 0% | 0% | 17% |
| English Literature | 11 | 0% | 18% | 23% |
| Drama and Theatre Studies | 10 | 40% | 70% | 19% |
| Art and Design | 9 | 11% | 22% | 34% |
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 7 | 14% | 29% | 15% |
| Religious Studies | 7 | 14% | 43% | 22% |
| Spanish | 6 | 0% | 17% | 34% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Computer Studies / Computing, German, Art and Design (Photography), Mathematics (Further).
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
90 students in this year group.
91% — 11 points above the Plymouth average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Plymouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 91% | 80% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 15% | 7% |
| Work | 37% | 31% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 91% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
95 students in this year group.
66% — 18 points above the Plymouth average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Plymouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 66% | 48% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 11% | 12% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 57% | 66% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Plymouth. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 233 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 279 |
| Of those, offered a place | 226 (81%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 554 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.2
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Plymouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 16th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.9% | 27.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.2% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.1% | 14.8%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 15th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.5% | 9.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 9.9%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 68% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 19.8% | 27.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.8 | 28.8 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Lower than 59% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.7% | 8.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.22% | 0.27% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 95% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 20.2 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 83% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5 | 11.8 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Plymouth. Higher than 10% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 6.6% | 10.4%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Plympton Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Tor Bridge High 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2021) · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- Plymstock School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lipson Co-operative Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- Eggbuckland Community College 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Coombe Dean School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Hele's School's Ofsted rating?
Hele's School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 July 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 23 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Hele's School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 54% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 9 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Hele's School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 279 families put Hele's School as their first choice for 233 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 226 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 136557.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.