August 20, 2026 11:20am
Students and staff at Paignton Academy, located on Borough Road and Waterleat Road and part of Thinking Schools Academy Trust, are celebrating today as this year’s GCSE results are revealed.
School leaders say the results reflect the hard work shown by pupils following two years of studies and the support given by dedicated staff and families.
In particular, outcomes in English Literature at both Grade 4+ and 5+ have also seen a significant rise with a 16% and 14% improvement respectively. Combined scores in English and maths have also seen strong improvements, with an 8% increase at grade 4 or higher and a 6% increase at grade 5 or higher.
Paignton Academy also saw continued strong results in many other subjects, including Art with 83% of students gaining a grade 4 or higher; child development with 90% at grade 4 and 34% at grade 7 or higher; food with an increase of 19% at grade 4 or higher and 12% improvement at grade 5; and health and social care with 81% gaining grade 4 or higher.
Alongside the school's overall success, many pupils have achieved exceptional individual results, including Evie York, Holly Platt and Jasmin Boadle, who all achieved every subject at grade 7 or above and Seb Mika, who achieved five grade 9s.
Collecting their GCSE results today, students praised the support they received at Paignton Academy and the role it played in helping them achieve success.
Scarlett Muscott said: “I’m really proud of my GCSE results, and Paignton Academy gave me the support and confidence I needed to achieve them.”
Similarly, Seb Mike highlighted the academy’s positive impact on his studies, saying: “Paignton Academy helped me stay focused and motivated, and my GCSE results show the progress that I made.”
Abu Ilufoye also praised the encouragement of staff, commenting: “The teachers at Paignton Academy always encouraged me to do my best, which helped me achieve grades I’m really happy with.”
Looking ahead to the future, Alexandre Guerin added: “Thanks to the support I received at Paignton Academy, I achieved my GCSE results and feel ready for the next step.”
Derwyn Williams, Principal at Paignton Academy, said:
“We are very pleased with these outcomes, and they reflect the hard work of our students as well as the support provided by their families and the staff at Paignton Academy. We are particularly pleased with the significant improvements in English, with a 10% improvement at grade 4 and 9% at grade 5.
“These results reflect the commitment of the team and the positive impact of our new Year 11 curriculum. While school is about more than academic results, strong outcomes can open important opportunities for young people, so it is fantastic to see progress across a range of subjects. We are really proud of all our students and are now excited to see them go on to their next chapters.”
Jay Davenport, Regional Director at Thinking Schools Academy Trust, said:
“I would like to congratulate every student receiving their results today. These outcomes reflect the hard work and commitment shown by young people over the last two years, supported every step of the way by their families and the staff at Paignton Academy.
“I am particularly pleased to see the improvements secured this year, which are the result of the strong leadership provided by Mr Williams and his team, working closely with colleagues across the Trust. Most importantly, today is about celebrating the achievements of the young people who have earned these results and wishing them every success in the next stage of their education and careers.”
