What year groups does The Lodestar Academy teach?

The Lodestar Academy teaches children aged 11 to 16. It is a special school in Torquay.

Who is the headteacher of The Lodestar Academy?

The headteacher of The Lodestar Academy is Mr Steven Hulme, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.

When was The Lodestar Academy last inspected?

Ofsted has inspected The Lodestar Academy, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.

How big is The Lodestar Academy?

The Lodestar Academy has 38 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 11 to 16.

Is The Lodestar Academy full?

The Lodestar Academy has capacity for 56 pupils and 38 on roll (68%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.

Is The Lodestar Academy a faith school?

No. The Lodestar Academy has no designated religious character.

Who runs The Lodestar Academy?

The Lodestar Academy is part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.

Does The Lodestar Academy publish exam results?

OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for The Lodestar Academy. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

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The Lodestar Academy

The Lodestar Academy

South Parks Road, Torquay, TQ2 8JE

Phase: Academies
School type: Academy alternative provision sponsor led
Ages: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Trust: THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher: Mr Steven Hulme
Sponsor: The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
Constituency: Torbay
Setting: Urban: Further from a major town or city
Capacity: 56
Pupils on roll: 38
URN: 144031
Local authority: Torbay
Telephone: 03333602240

About this school

The Lodestar Academy is a special academy in Torquay. It teaches children aged 11 to 16 and has 38 pupils on roll.

You can read Ofsted's latest judgement for the school below. Where the Department for Education has published them, its results and pupil characteristics appear below. Seeing a school for yourself shows what no page can, so arrange a visit before you apply.

Ofsted judgement

England: previous inspection framework

Inspected 21 November 2023 · report published 15 January 2024

Good

Overall judgement at the last full inspection

This inspection took place under the previous framework, which gave a single overall grade. Ofsted now publishes report cards instead, so newer inspections of other schools will look different. How Ofsted report cards work

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Safeguarding: Effective

Read the full report on Ofsted's website

Trends over time

How The Lodestar Academy has moved over recent years against the local and national picture. Every figure is shown in the table beneath its chart.

Pupils on roll

Year	This school
2022/23	43
2023/24	48
2024/25	40

School census, spring count each academic year.

School context

From the 2024/25 school census and absence figures.

Free school meals (last 6 years): 70%
English as an additional language: 0%

Location

Nearby schools

Combe Pafford School
Academies · Torquay

0.8 miles
Mayfield School
Special schools · Torquay

1.0 miles
Abbey School
Independent schools · Torquay

1.1 miles
Eat That Frog C.I.C
Other types · Torquay

1.6 miles
Brunel School
Academies · Paignton

3.3 miles

Other schools in Torquay

Combe Pafford School Academies
Eat That Frog C.I.C Other types
Mayfield School Special schools
Phoenix Bay School Special schools
All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary School Primary
Cockington Primary School Primary
Ellacombe Church of England Academy Primary
Homelands Primary School Primary
Ilsham Church of England Academy Primary
Lift Barton Hill Primary
Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Primary School Primary
Preston Primary School Primary

Common questions

What year groups does The Lodestar Academy teach?: The Lodestar Academy teaches children aged 11 to 16. It is a special school in Torquay.
Who is the headteacher of The Lodestar Academy?: The headteacher of The Lodestar Academy is Mr Steven Hulme, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
When was The Lodestar Academy last inspected?: Ofsted has inspected The Lodestar Academy, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.
How big is The Lodestar Academy?: The Lodestar Academy has 38 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 11 to 16.
Is The Lodestar Academy full?: The Lodestar Academy has capacity for 56 pupils and 38 on roll (68%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.
Is The Lodestar Academy a faith school?: No. The Lodestar Academy has no designated religious character.
Who runs The Lodestar Academy?: The Lodestar Academy is part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.
Does The Lodestar Academy publish exam results?: OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for The Lodestar Academy. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. This page was last updated on 2 July 2026.