Notre Dame RC School
Plymouth, PL6 5HN · Plymouth · secondary school
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16th of 19 secondary schools in Plymouth we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 3.0/10 against 879 of them, against 3.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 2 | 35% | 0.06 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 38.5 · 33 | 30% | 1.00 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.27 · 30 | 25% | 0.74 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.6 · 42 | 10% | 0.42 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Notre Dame RC School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 33.6% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.27 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.1 out of 10 among them, against 2.8 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, Art Club, Computer Club, Latin Club, MKC Heroes, Young Carers, Young Spiritual Leaders, and Cookery Club. Sports include netball, dance, table tennis, rounders, tennis, athletics, benchball, and badminton. Arts and music offer choir, ND Chorus, jazz band, drama club, and musical productions. Sixth Form residential retreats and Challenge Week provide trips. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 764 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. 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
What Ofsted said about Notre Dame RC School
Overview
The inspection concludes that the school "requires special measures" because it is "failing to provide an acceptable standard of education" and leaders are "not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement." Safeguarding standards are "not met," placing pupils at "significant risk of harm" due to an absence of an "open and positive culture around safeguarding."
Strengths
- Leaders follow "appropriate safer recruitment processes" and make referrals to agencies when concerned about pupil welfare.
- Pupils in the specially resourced provision for SEND are "well supported to develop life skills for adulthood."
- The curriculum is "suitably ambitious" with a "logical order" in teaching, and teachers have "sufficient expertise in their subjects."
- Leaders support staff wellbeing effectively, considering the impact of decisions on workload.
- Pupils benefit from a "suitable careers and guidance programme" and enrichment activities that "raise pupils' aspirations."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must urgently implement "clear and effective processes to review safeguarding practices" and ensure pupils feel safe and believed when raising concerns.
- Leaders should ensure gaps in pupils’ knowledge are "consistently identified" so the curriculum matches starting points and pupils achieve highly.
- Leaders must strengthen monitoring of support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, and take swift action to raise attendance.
Safeguarding
The report states that "leaders have not ensured that there is an open and positive culture around safeguarding," which "puts pupils at significant risk of harm" due to slow responses to allegations and weak record-keeping.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.7 |
| 2024/25 | 43.3 |
| 2025/26 | 44.6 |
| 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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