Coombeshead Academy
Newton Abbot, TQ12 1PT · Devon · secondary school
Check the area around this school
17th of 40 secondary schools in Devon we can score, 41 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.9/10 against 815 of them, against 4.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.1 · 53 | 30% | 1.59 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.12 · 41 | 25% | 1.03 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.0 · 50 | 10% | 0.50 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Coombeshead Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 49.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.12 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in April 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the School Show, the Codex Project, and an International Cultural Exchange trip.
Getting in
The published school roll is 870 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,440. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the International Cultural Exchange trip integrate with the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Coombeshead Academy
Overview
Coombeshead Academy is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking an improvement from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement. The report highlights a school where pupils feel welcomed and staff maintain strong relationships with students, supported by a meticulously planned curriculum that fosters deeper subject understanding. Leaders have successfully raised expectations, resulting in positive pupil attitudes and a united culture focused on sustained improvement.
Strengths
- Leaders have developed an “ambitious and broad curriculum” that is “meticulously planned” to help pupils build knowledge carefully.
- Staff receive “detailed and precise information” to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring they receive necessary help.
- The personal development programme is “coherent and well structured,” teaching pupils about respect, diversity, and safety in an age-appropriate way.
- Leaders prioritise reading, using consistent routines and a daily programme to ensure pupils engage with “diverse and challenging texts.”
- Staff feel supported, with leaders managing workload effectively and putting staff well-being first.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, teachers do not use assessment to identify gaps in knowledge accurately, leaving some pupils unable to keep up with new learning.
- A small number of sixth-form students do not benefit fully from the provision, leading some to not continue their studies or access parts of the wider programme.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff being “watchful and prompt to report concerns” and leaders being “tenacious when working with agencies” to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.8 |
| 2024/25 | 46.8 |
| 2025/26 | 46.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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