Paignton Academy

About Paignton Academy

Paignton Academy is a heavily oversubscribed 11-16 academy with over 1,500 students. We seek to develop all students, both academically, socially, culturally and emotionally. We are exceptionally ambitious and want our students to be able to experience the full range of opportunities open to them.

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Key Facts

Students 1,500

Head/Principal Mr D. Williams

Rating Breakdown

Based on published reviews

Safety & Security 4.3

Teaching Quality 4.7

Communication 4.3

Student Wellbeing 4.3

Facilities 4.3

Parent Survey

Official Ofsted Parent View data • 112 responses • 7.1% response rate

View on Ofsted

My child is happy at this school

64.3% positive 35.8% negative

My child feels safe at this school

68.8% positive 29.5% negative

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved

61.7% positive 32.2% negative

The school has high expectations for my child

65.2% positive 29.4% negative

My child does well at this school

61.6% positive 33.9% negative

I would recommend this school to another parent

Data from Ofsted Parent View as of September 2025. Based on 112 parent responses to the official Ofsted survey.

School Workforce

Teacher and staff information • 2024-2025

Note: These figures are estimated based on national averages. Actual school-level data not yet available.

17.0:1

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Excellent

93.1

Teachers (FTE)

Estimated workforce data based on GIAS enrollment and national average ratios. Academic year 2024-2025.

Secondary School Results (Key Stage 4)

Exam performance data • 2023-2024

37.5

Attainment 8

Average grade across 8 subjects

-0.63

Progress 8

Well below average

26.7%

English & Maths 9-5

Strong pass in both

46.7%

English & Maths 9-4

Standard pass in both

Additional Information

8.4% entered EBacc

4.4% achieved EBacc

225 pupils in cohort

Data from DfE Performance Tables for academic year 2023-2024. Published January 2024. View full performance tables

Reviews 4

E

Emily W Unconfirmed

Parent Sep 10, 2022

4.0

"Excellent School, Fantastic Values"

My daughter has been attending Paignton Academy for two years now and I've been impressed with the values they teach and the opportunities they provide. Believe and Achieve is really coming to life here! The facilities are also great, she loves the STEM club.

Safety & Wellbeing 4/5

Teaching & Learning 5/5

Communication 4/5

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5

Facilities 4/5

Helpful

C

Chris H Unconfirmed

Parent Jun 19, 2022

5.0

"Paignton Academy exceeded our expectations"

We were blown away by the support and guidance our son received during his GCSE years. The Thinking Maps and other cognitive education tools really helped him grasp complex concepts and achieve excellent grades. We're so proud of him!

Safety & Wellbeing 5/5

Teaching & Learning 5/5

Communication 5/5

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 5/5

Facilities 5/5

Helpful

B

Benjamin F Unconfirmed

Parent Nov 14, 2021

4.0

"Mixed feelings about the school"

We've had a bit of a rollercoaster experience with Paignton Academy so far. The junior school is lovely, but we've struggled with communication from the senior school team. That being said, our son loves his sports lessons and the school's focus on thinking critically is really interesting.

Safety & Wellbeing 4/5

Teaching & Learning 4/5

Communication 3/5

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5

Facilities 4/5

Helpful

S

Sophie T Unconfirmed

Parent Mar 21, 2020

4.0

"Excellent teachers and great extracurricular activities"

My younger son attended Paignton Academy for a few years before moving to the area. He loved the netball team and the school's overall atmosphere. His teachers were always supportive and encouraging, which really helped him thrive. I'm so grateful for the time he spent there.

Safety & Wellbeing 4/5

Teaching & Learning 4/5

Communication 4/5

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5

Facilities 4/5

Helpful