Fittings to use in wall (putting up curtain rod)

[heavyrunner73]

Hi All.
May be a simple one, but having a nightmare putting up a curtain rod in my son's bedroom. I'm not sure what type of wall it is - seems to be just plaster - I have tried to find a stud in the wall but I am not sure I'll find one with it being an external wall?
The curtain rod came with rawl plugs so I first tried drilling holes big enough to get the plugs in - when then trying to screw into them, there wasn't much purchase and the screws would not hold any weight. I then bought some plasterboard wall plug anchors thinking it may be plaster board. I screwed these into the wall which seemed to be better but again, once I've screwed into them, it does not hold. I think it's just plaster as it seems to disintegrate when I try to do anything with it!
I'm not very savvy on these things so hoping someone can suggest the right type of fixings to use. I've attached a couple of photos - you'll see the mess using the anchors has made.
What's the best way to determine what kind of wall this is and what kind of fixing to use to put up the curtain rod?
Thanks!
Rob.

 

[Dekzion]

Hey there,
It's no good telling you what's already happened, It's plasterboard. And very soft stuff too by the looks of it. I'd make two goes at it. First use a plasterboard ally plug but smear it with gorrilla glue and then screw it in so that it is level with the surface, no more, and then give it a few hours to harden.
Second cut a nice piece of 11mm plywood about six inches square, sand its edges smooth and glue that to the surface with gorrila glue or a good grade silicone, whilst that's drying give it a coat of paint, when that's dry you can screw into it