Schools/United Kingdom/Plymouth/Plymouth College
United Kingdom — Devon

Plymouth College

Ford Park, Plymouth
A-LevelGCSE
Plymouth College logo
Data verified from public sources
Annual Fees$ 45,754 – $ 52,448
Ages2 – 19

Plymouth College is a A-Level / GCSE school in Plymouth, United Kingdom. Founded in 1877. It serves 511 students for students aged 2–19. Annual tuition ranges from $45,754 to $52,448 USD.

Explore This School

Visit Website

Location & Getting There

Ford Park, PlymouthOpen in Maps

NanaSays Scorecard

Est. 1877
Year Founded
511
Students Enrolled
Boarding Available

Key Details

Curricula Offered
A-LevelYes
GCSEYes
Accreditations
BSA
Languages of Instruction
English

Scholarships Available

Types Available
Academic Scholarship — offered at 13+ and Sixth Form entry, with internal awards at Years 8 and 11 for pupils showing excellence and contribution
Swimming Scholarship — partnership with Plymouth College Aquatics, available from Year 7 through Sixth Form for day and boarding pupils, assessed by Head Coach
Football Scholarship — partnership with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, available for international boarding pupils entering Years 11, 12, 13 in 2026
Art Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
Drama Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
Music Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
Sport Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
All-rounder awards — recognising pupils with multiple talents across academics, sport and arts
Bursaries (means-tested): Plymouth College offers means-tested bursaries to talented pupils who would otherwise be unable to access the school's education.
💡 Scholarship amounts and bursary likelihood analysis are in the Full Deep Report.
Merit-based Scholarships

Academic Performance

Standards Met
ISI

ISI Inspection Report

Plymouth College meets all statutory Independent School Standards and National Minimum Standards for boarding schools. The school provides a broad curriculum with effective teaching, good pupil progress, and strong safeguarding. Key areas requiring strengthening include consistent implementation of PSHE and consistent behavioral expectations across all staff.

ISI Standards
Met
Key Strengths
Leaders understand their responsibilities and have the knowledge and skills to meet them effectively
The curriculum meets the needs of all pupils, including those who have SEND and those who speak EAL
Pupils enjoy extra-curricular opportunities that enrich school life
Teachers plan lessons well and use a range of effective strategies to engage pupils' interest
Relationships between teachers and pupils are typically positive
Bullying incidents are rare and managed effectively by staff
There is a robust culture of safeguarding within the school
Boarding houses are clean, well-maintained with comfortable accommodation
Areas for Development
Strengthen oversight of the content and implementation of PSHE and the behaviour policy
Strengthen the teaching and assessment of PSHE to ensure all pupils develop mature and respectful attitudes to relationships
Ensure staff set consistently high behavioural expectations so that behaviour aligns with the school's ethos
Leaders should rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of PSHE and behaviour management
View Full ISI Report (2026-02-03)

Key facts

Founded
1877
Ages
2–19 (Co-ed)
Pupils on roll
511
Fees
$ 9,732$ 50,101 / year
Inspectorate
ISI

Fees & the true cost of attendance

Published fees · inclusive of VAT

PhasePer termPer year
Pre-school Full-time£3,244£9,732
Reception (Day)£3,710.4£11,131.2
Years 1-2 (Day)£4,395.6£13,186.8
Years 3-4 (Day)£4,708.8£14,126.4
Years 5-6 (Day)£5,118£15,354
Years 7-8 (Day)£6,511.2£19,533.6
Years 9-11 (Day)£7,420.8£22,262.4
Sixth Form (Day)£7,714.8£23,144.4
Years 7-8 (Full Boarding UK)£10,809.6£32,428.8
Years 9-11 (Full Boarding UK)£13,239.6£39,718.8
Sixth Form (Full Boarding UK)£13,942.8£41,828.4
Years 7-8 (Full Boarding EU)£13,473.6£40,420.8
Years 9-11 (Full Boarding EU)£14,728.8£44,186.4
Sixth Form (Full Boarding EU)£15,445.2£46,335.6
Years 7-8 (Full Boarding International)£14,250£42,750
Years 9-11 (Full Boarding International)£16,550.4£49,651.2
Sixth Form (Full Boarding International)£16,700.4£50,101.2
Years 7-8 (Weekly Boarding)£9,399.6£28,198.8
Years 9-11 (Weekly Boarding)£11,523.6£34,570.8
Sixth Form (Weekly Boarding)£11,814£35,442

Budget beyond the sticker price. Assume the real annual spend is 5–15% higher than the headline fee. Hidden costs typically include: registration fee, acceptance deposit (usually one term's fees, refundable at the end of schooling), uniform + sports kit, trips and expeditions, individual music tuition, exam entry fees, travel to/from home.

Ask the Bursar for a sample "all-in" first-year invoice before committing.

Scholarships & financial assistance

Merit-based scholarships (8 types)

Academic Scholarship — offered at 13+ and Sixth Form entry, with internal awards at Years 8 and 11 for pupils showing excellence and contribution
Swimming Scholarship — partnership with Plymouth College Aquatics, available from Year 7 through Sixth Form for day and boarding pupils, assessed by Head Coach
Football Scholarship — partnership with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, available for international boarding pupils entering Years 11, 12, 13 in 2026
Art Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
Drama Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
Music Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
Sport Scholarship — offered at entry points and recognised internally
All-rounder awards — recognising pupils with multiple talents across academics, sport and arts

ℹ️ This school has not published the exact % fee remission for each award. Ask the admissions team directly — typical independent school scholarships range from 5% to 50% of fees.

💰
Means-tested bursaries — the school looks at your family income and can offer a much larger discount than any scholarship. Plymouth College offers means-tested bursaries to talented pupils who would otherwise be unable to access the school's education. Ask the Bursar directly — these are rarely advertised prominently.

About

Plymouth College is a co-educational school based in the maritime city of Plymouth, surrounded by the moorland, countryside and coastal landscapes of Devon and Cornwall. At the forefront of education in South West England since 1877, the school combines good teaching with diverse activities and high standards of pastoral care. GCSE and A-Level results consistently exceed national averages, supported by 70+ annual clubs and enrichment activities.

School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.

What Makes This School Different

Combined Cadet Force (CCF) with Royal Na
Whiteworks Outward Bound centre on Dartm
PSHE curriculum
Leadership development through house sys
International short-stay full boarding p
Clubs & Activities
Swimming (Olympic-level training)RugbyNetballHockeyFencingCricketTennisAthleticsDrama productionsMusic ensembles+5 more
Expeditions include: Dartmoor moorland walking, Whiteworks overnight stays (school cottage), Coastal trips (Devon and Cornwall beaches), Surfing lessons, Sailing and 9 more.

Academic Results

Oxbridge 2025
1
0 Oxford · 1 Cambridge
University Destinations 2025
University of Cambridge1University of Bristol1University of Bath3University of Exeter3Durham University2University of Edinburgh2

Admissions

Entry pointAssessmentAssessment dateRegistration deadline
Year 7 (11+)Not detailed in source content
Year 9 (13+)Not detailed in source content
Sixth Form (16+)Not detailed in source content

How to apply

  1. Initial enquiry
  2. Registration
  3. Assessment
  4. Receiving an offer

What you'll need to submit

  • Online registration form

Open events

  • Open Days held throughout the year
  • Sixth Form Taster Days and Open Evenings
  • Personal tours by arrangement

Scholarships: Scholarships and bursaries available at all entry points

Admissions contact: [email protected], 01752 505120

Admissions process overview provided but detailed assessment format, specific dates, and submission requirements not detailed in crawled content.

Why Families Choose

Strong academic results; 70+ clubs and activities; diverse international boarding community; excellent pastoral care; accessible location with moorland, countryside and coastal activities nearby

Fees & Financials

£12,009 – £13,766

Original currency: £12,009 – £13,766.

Facilities & Programmes

Arts
Music
Drama
Co-Curricular
Sports
Outward Bound
Music
Drama
Business Competitions
Ten-pin Bowling
Ice-skating
Cinema

Student Demographics

School Type
co-ed
Age Range
219
Student Body
Boarding capacity69

School Background

Governance & Ownership

Independent

Sports Programme

35
teams across 12 sports
Signature Sports
CricketRugbySwimmingFootballNetball
Teams by Sport
Cricket
24
teams
Netball
17
teams
Football
15
teams
Rugby Union
13
teams
Hockey
6
teams
Rugby Sevens
4
teams
Hockey Sevens
4
teams
Golf
2
teams
Rugby Tens
1
teams
Table Tennis
1
teams
Cross Country
1
teams
Swimming
1
teams
Also Offered
AthleticsBadmintonEquestrianFencingTennisTriathlon
Recent Highlights
InternationalParis 2024 Olympics representation (14 OPMs + 1 current pupil)2024
InternationalTom Daley Olympic diving gold medal (alumnus)2024
NationalHockey U14 Tier 2 National Title2024
InternationalDiving junior European gold (Ollie Heath, current pupil)2023
Facilities
Modern sports hallWell equipped gymSwimming poolFord Park cricket groundMultiple pitches and courts
Director of Sport: Charlie Irish

Frequently Asked Questions

The annual fees at Plymouth College are £12,009 – £13,766 per academic year.