Paignton Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Paignton, Torbay, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 281 of its 1,568 pupils (17.9%) were getting SEN support and 79 (5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,568 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Torbay.
17.9% get SEN support
281 of 1,568 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5% have an EHC plan
79 of 1,568 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health96
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia66
- Speech, language and communication62
- Autism61
- Moderate learning difficulty20
- Physical disability14
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,568 (places for 1,590)
- Headteacher
- Mr Derwyn Williams
- Part of
- The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 34.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Torbay
- School reference (URN)
- 138863
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Torbay council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, December 2024
Inspected in December 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Waterleat Road, Paignton, TQ3 3WA
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Cambian Devon School Independent · Ages 7–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Preston Bridge School Independent · Ages 6–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Preston Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
- Eden Park Primary & Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Paignton Academy
How many pupils at Paignton Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 281 of the 1,568 pupils (17.9%) were getting SEN support and 79 (5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Paignton Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (96 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (66 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (62 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Paignton Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Paignton Academy?
Through Torbay council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Paignton Academy?
You can ask for Paignton Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Paignton Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Preston Primary School, about 2.1 miles away.
Where is Paignton Academy?
Waterleat Road, Paignton, TQ3 3WA, in Torbay.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.