St Boniface's RC College
Plymouth, PL5 3AG · Plymouth · secondary school
Check the area around this school
19th of 19 secondary schools in Plymouth we can score. 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 — 2.5/10 against 577 of them, against 1.7/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 26.7 · 10 | 46% | 0.45 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.28 · 29 | 38% | 1.11 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.8 · 12 | 15% | 0.18 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Boniface's RC College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 25.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.28 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 389 pupils against a stated capacity of 400. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students who are making negative progress?
What Ofsted said about St Boniface's RC College
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils feel safe and cared for, noting that "warm and respectful relationships" provide a firm foundation for improvement. While behaviour and personal development are rated as good, the quality of education requires improvement due to inconsistent curriculum delivery. Leaders are described as "highly reflective and committed to continuing improvements" with a "deep moral purpose."
Strengths
- Pupils describe the community as a "family" and feel "safe and cared for," with high loyalty to the school.
- Behaviour is "calm and orderly," with most pupils demonstrating "deep respect for their teachers."
- The school "effectively promotes a love of reading" and has a robust programme to support pupils who have fallen behind.
- Personal development is strong, with pupils developing "confidence and resilience" through trips, sports, and charity work.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "identified accurately" and receive care that is a "strength of the school."
Areas to improve
- Curriculum delivery is "inconsistent," with some work lacking "purpose and ambition," preventing pupils from deepening their knowledge.
- Staff do not always check pupils’ understanding effectively, meaning "misconceptions persist" and pupils struggle with independent work.
- Expectations for some pupils are "not high enough," resulting in written work that "lacks accuracy and care."
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.1 |
| 2024/25 | 39.0 |
| 2025/26 | 37.8 |
| 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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