Academy converter · Torbay

Paignton Academy

11–16Ages
1,568Pupils
SecondaryPhase
138863URN

Waterleat Road, Paignton, TQ3 3WA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

0.5 below Torbay median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in TorbaySelective

378 applications for 286 places · 7th of 8 in Torbay

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.5of 90

Torbay 45.1 England 46.0

7th of 8 in Torbay

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 3 December 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.3applications per place, Year 7

0.5 below Torbay median (1.8) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

378 applications · 286 places offered · 265 named it first

2026 1.3; Torbay median median 1.8
2025 1.2; Torbay median median 1.9
2024 1.2; Torbay median median 1.9
2023 1.3; Torbay median median 1.9
2022 1.3; Torbay median median 1.9
2021 1.3; Torbay median median 2.1
2020 1.3; Torbay median median 1.7
2019 1.3; Torbay median median 1.8
2018 1.3; Torbay median median 1.7
2017 1.4; Torbay median median 1.9
2016 1.5; Torbay median median 1.8
2015 1.5; Torbay median median 1.7
2014 1.3; Torbay median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Torbay median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Torbay median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	286	378	1.3	265	0.93
Sep 2025	327	401	1.2	273	0.83
Sep 2024	331	409	1.2	278	0.84
Sep 2023	341	434	1.3	290	0.85
Sep 2022	289	362	1.3	253	0.88
Sep 2021	296	396	1.3	234	0.79
Sep 2020	295	371	1.3	250	0.85
Sep 2019	272	350	1.3	251	0.92
Sep 2018	242	318	1.3	207	0.86
Sep 2017	226	325	1.4	205	0.91
Sep 2016	238	345	1.5	218	0.92
Sep 2015	229	332	1.5	199	0.87
Sep 2014	276	369	1.3	220	0.80

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

286 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.57th of 8 in Torbay

Torbay 45.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths30%7th of 8 in Torbay

Torbay 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths50%

Torbay 66% England 66%

This school
Torbay median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.63

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	286	38.5	30%	50%	–
2024/25	264	36.9	25%	41%	–
2023/24	225	37.5	27%	47%	−0.63
2022/23	255	38.9	20%	47%	−0.30

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Paignton AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.3applications per place 38.5Attainment 8
Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy
4.3 km · Torbay

Good2022

2.8applications per place 67.3Attainment 8 Selective
Torquay Boys' Grammar School
5.5 km · Torbay

2026

1.8applications per place 70.0Attainment 8 Selective
Torquay Girls' Grammar School
5.7 km · Torbay

Outstanding2023

1.8applications per place 68.4Attainment 8 Selective
Torquay Academy
6.4 km · Torbay

Standards maintained2025

2.3applications per place 48.7Attainment 8
The Spires College
6.7 km · Torbay

Remains Good2022

2.9applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Brixham College
6.9 km · Torbay

2026

1.7applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
St Cuthbert Mayne School
7.1 km · Torbay

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.1applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
King Edward VI Community College
7.8 km · Devon

Standards maintained2025

1.9applications per place 45.9Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 138863 · 880/4001
Trust: The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,590 pupils · 1,568 on roll
Free school meals: 34.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 October 2012
Replaced: Paignton Community and Sports College (URN 113528)
Address: Waterleat Road, Paignton, TQ3 3WA
Local authority: Torbay

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources