Widewell Primary Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of LEARNING ACADEMIES TRUST

Lulworth Drive, Roborough, Widewell Primary School, Plymouth, PL6 7ER

01752 778796 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card2 strong, 5 expectedSafeguarding met · 31 March 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths63%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 38th highest of 69 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 44% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils228Room for 234 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 217 in 2019, 230 in 2021, 227 in 2022, 232 in 2023, 219 in 2024, 214 in 2025, 228 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.441 for 30 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 73 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 96% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 31 March 2026 , published 19 May 2026.

In short: 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

64 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Plymouth comparisons use the 7 of its 75 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 68 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolPlymouthEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth.
Higher than 76% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 79% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth.
Higher than 53% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 81% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth.
Higher than 55% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 69% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 54 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth.
Higher than 56% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 66% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 12 parents of children with SEND
1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth.
Higher than 71% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 63% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Plymouth.
Higher than 51% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92%said yes 75% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 30%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Plymouth figures pool parents at the Plymouth schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

27 pupils in this year group.

63% — 2 points below the Plymouth average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolPlymouthEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 63% 65% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 11% 8% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 74% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 70% 75% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 70% 75% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 106 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 41%This school 2023/24: 70%This school 2024/25: 63% This school England 62% 2022/23 41% 2023/24 70% 2024/25 63%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered30
Families who put it first41
Of those, offered a place29 (71%)
Families who listed it at all81

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.4

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Plymouth

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolPlymouthEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
44th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
19.8% 26.6%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
34th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.8% 2.6%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
60th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
11.7% 16.3%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
34th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.3% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
32nd lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Lower than 58% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.8% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
32nd lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
10.9% 12.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 3.2 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
24th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 68% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
22.1 21.0 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 36th highest of 75 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 53% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.9 10.7 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
17th highest of 71 state primary schools in Plymouth.
Higher than 82% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
24.5% 15.8%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Widewell Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Widewell Primary Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 31 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Widewell Primary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Widewell Primary Academy?

92% of the 64 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Widewell Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Widewell Primary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 41 families put Widewell Primary Academy as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 29 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.