Stoke Damerel Community College
Plymouth, PL3 4BD · Plymouth · secondary school
Check the area around this school
18th 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 — 3.7/10 against 501 of them, against 2.2/10 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 | 10 | 35% | 0.36 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 29.4 · 15 | 30% | 0.44 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.19 · 36 | 25% | 0.89 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.3 · 13 | 10% | 0.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Stoke Damerel Community College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 24.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 in 2023/24 was -0.19, 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 (3.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and SPARX.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,292 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,680. 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 8 and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming for grade 5 or above in English and maths? How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Stoke Damerel Community College
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders act in pupils’ best interests and have established an open safeguarding culture. While post-16 provision is effective and personal development is strong, the school requires attention in areas of achievement, attendance, behaviour, and teaching consistency. Inspectors note that leaders have correctly identified development priorities and are working with the trust to accelerate improvement.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- The careers programme is a "strength," carefully designed to raise aspirations and ensure pupils progress to education or employment aligned with their interests.
- Post-16 students succeed in their courses due to an "ambitious curriculum" and "typically effective teaching."
- Leaders provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs, including a specialist resourced provision and internal alternative provision.
- Pupils enjoy extra-curricular activities and take pride in leadership roles, such as the student council and charity fundraising.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure weaknesses in written accuracy, including spelling and punctuation, are "identified consistently and addressed systematically."
- Teachers need to consistently apply effective adaptations for pupils with barriers to learning so they achieve as well as their peers.
- Leaders should strengthen the consistency of behaviour management to create a "culture of mutual respect" where bullying rarely occurs.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.5 |
| 2024/25 | 35.9 |
| 2025/26 | 38.3 |
| 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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