The Lodestar Academy

Torquay · Torbay

Other Alternative provision academy (sponsor led)Part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST

THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST is a Multi-academy trust. The trust operates 26 member schools: 14 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, 1 alternative provision setting. Local authorities: Essex | Kent | Medway | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Torbay. Regions: East of England | South East | South West. — from the THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST public record.

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The Lodestar Academy is a other academy in Torquay, Torbay, part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST. It is currently hiring, with 1 live vacancy on SchoolJobs.

Schools in South West England

The Lodestar Academy is a other academy in Torquay, Torbay. View current jobs, teaching vacancies and school support roles posted by the school.

Current vacancies at The Lodestar Academy

1 live vacancy

Catering Assistant
Torquay· 13.30
Direct with schoolPosted 7 Nov 2026· Closes 22 Nov 2026
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School information

Official name: The Lodestar Academy
Address: South Parks Road
Postcode: TQ2 8JE
Country: England
Local authority: Torbay
Parliamentary constituency: Torbay
URN (official identifier): 144031
Establishment number: 1100
School status: Open
Education phase: Other
Age range: 11–16 years
Gender intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Number of pupils: 38; As of November 2026
Capacity: 56
School type: Alternative provision academy (sponsor led)
Governance: Academy
Academy trust: THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Local authority: Torbay
Headteacher: Ms Beth Woodward
Ofsted inspection: Good · Inspected 21 Nov 2023Source: Ofsted management information · 30 Sep 2026 · Open Government Licence v3.0
Telephone: 03333602240
Date opened: 1 Apr 2017

Source: get-information-schools.service.gov.uk . Official data last refreshed November 2026.

Pupils at The Lodestar Academy

2025/26	This school	Torbay	England
Pupils	38	19,404	8,355,420
Eligible for free school meals	76.3%	27.0%	26.5%
SEN support	97.4%	14.3%	14.6%
Education, health and care plan (EHCP)	2.6%	6.8%	5.9%
First language other than English (EAL)	0.0%	7.4%	21.6%

Local authority and England figures are calculated from the same DfE school-level files across state-funded schools.

Source: Department for Education, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and Special educational needs in England , academic year 2025/26. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ofsted inspection history

7 published inspections for The Lodestar Academy, including inspections of the school it replaced.

21 Nov 2023 · Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1
Read report
Overall effectiveness: Good
Personal development
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Safeguarding is effective
Yes
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Good
Report published 15 Jan 2024
11 Feb 2020 · Academy First Section 5
Read report
Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement
Personal development
Good
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Safeguarding is effective
Yes
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Good
Report published 2 Mar 2020
13 Jan 2016 · Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1
Read report
Inspected as Torbay School (URN 134126)
Overall effectiveness: Inadequate
Category of concern
SM
Outcomes for pupils
Inadequate
Is safeguarding effective
No
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Inadequate
Personal development, behaviour and welfare
Inadequate
Quality of teaching, learning and assessment
Inadequate
Report published 10 Mar 2016
8 Oct 2013 · S5 Inspection
Read report
Inspected as Torbay School (URN 134126)
Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement
Pupils' achievement
Requires improvement
Quality of teaching
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Behaviour and safety of pupils
Requires improvement
Report published 6 Nov 2013
1 Dec 2011 · Notice to Improve S5 ReInspection
Read report
Inspected as Torbay School (URN 134126)
Overall effectiveness: Satisfactory
Pupils' achievement
Satisfactory
Quality of teaching
Satisfactory
Leadership and management
Good
Behaviour and safety of pupils
Satisfactory
Report published 5 Jan 2012
13 Oct 2010 · S5 Inspection
Read report
Inspected as Torbay School (URN 134126)
Overall effectiveness: Inadequate
Category
NTI
Pupils' achievement
Inadequate
Quality of teaching
Inadequate
Leadership and management
Satisfactory
Behaviour and safety of pupils
Satisfactory
Report published 23 Nov 2010
27 Mar 2008 · S5 Inspection
Read report
Inspected as Torbay School (URN 134126)
Overall effectiveness: Satisfactory
Pupils' achievement
Satisfactory
Quality of teaching
Satisfactory
Leadership and management
Satisfactory
Behaviour and safety of pupils
Good
Report published 28 Apr 2008

Source: Ofsted, State-funded school inspections and outcomes: management information (files from 2005 to the latest monthly release; data checked 6 Nov 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Pupil premium at The Lodestar Academy

Deprivation pupil premium allocation for 2026 to 2027: £33,000 for 30 eligible pupils.

Financial year 2026-27	This school	Torbay	England
Pupils eligible	79.0%	28.1%	27.7%
Allocation per pupil on roll	£868	£373	£370

Deprivation pupil premium only; service child and looked-after children premiums are not published per school. Local authority and England figures use the same file.

Source: Department for Education, Pupil premium allocations 2026 to 2027 (September 2026) . Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

School finances at The Lodestar Academy

2024/25 academic year (academy accounts return) · Alternative provision · 48 pupils. Excludes the trust's central costs.

The Lodestar Academy finances compared with averages, 2024/25 academic year (academy accounts return)
	This school	England average (per pupil · % of spend)
Total income	£1,474,000 £30,708 per pupil	£33,057
Total spending	£1,139,000 £23,729 per pupil	£30,077
Teaching staff	£636,000 £13,250 per pupil · 55.8%	£13,382 · 44.5%
Education support staff	£194,000 £4,042 per pupil · 17.0%	£5,707 · 19.0%
Supply and agency staff	£53,000 £1,104 per pupil · 4.7%	£1,456 · 4.8%
…of which agency supply	£53,000 £1,104 per pupil · 4.7%	£1,324 · 4.4%
In-year balance	£335,000
Revenue reserve	£0

Previous year (2023/24): spending £28,063 per pupil, supply and agency £521 per pupil — spending down £4,333 per pupil on 2023/24.

Not enough schools of this phase in the local authority to compare.

Finance data is from the official return for that year and may not reflect the school's current position. Averages are pupil-weighted and use the same return, year and phase.

Full detail on DfE's Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool · Local authority finance averages

Source: Department for Education, Academies Accounts Return 2024/25 via FBIT data sources, checked 6 Nov 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Torbay council: term dates · school admissions (academies and independent schools may set their own dates — check with The Lodestar Academy)

Where is The Lodestar Academy?

South Parks Road, Torquay, TQ2 8JE

03333602240

Schools in Torbay

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The Lodestar Academy is part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST

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Information source: Get Information About Schools (DfE)
Last updated: 5 Nov 2026

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At a glance

Phase: Other
Local authority: Torbay
Pupils: 38
Ofsted: Good · Inspected 21 Nov 2023
Trust: THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Opened: 1 Apr 2017

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