Bodmin College

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of CORNWALL EDUCATION LEARNING TRUST

Lostwithiel Road, Bodmin, PL31 1DD

0120872114 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 1 October 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths45%England 45% · 2024/25
Joint 11th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 54% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,236Room for 1,550 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,421 in 2019, 1,518 in 2021, 1,555 in 2022, 1,564 in 2023, 1,558 in 2024, 1,438 in 2025, 1,236 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0234 for 237 places, September 2026
18th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 58% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 1 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
Sixth formRequires improvement
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

257 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Cornwall comparisons use the 18 of its 32 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 14 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolCornwallEngland
My child is happy at this school
15th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 4% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
48% 68% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 14th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 8% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
61% 74% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 10th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 24% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
64% 68% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 112 parents whose child had been bullied
14th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 8% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
30% 41% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 220 parents who had raised a concern
15th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 7% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
40% 57% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 74 parents of children with SEND
10th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 3% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
22% 46% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
15th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 5% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
37%said yes 65% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Cornwall figures pool parents at the Cornwall schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

238 pupils in this year group.

45% — 2 points above the Cornwall average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCornwallEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 45% 43% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 46 45.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.8 3.9 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 23%This school 2023/24: 32%This school 2024/25: 45% This school England 45% 2022/23 23% 2023/24 32% 2024/25 45%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

224 pupils in this year group.

93% — 2 points above the Cornwall average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 46%22%15%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCornwallEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 93% 91% 92%
School sixth form 46% 15% 34%
Sixth form college 22% 11% 13%
Further education college 15% 54% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 5% 3%
Work 4% 5% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%93%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

53 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolCornwallEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 13% 22% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 44% 48% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 31.7 35.0 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 30.4This school 2023/24: 30.2This school 2024/25: 31.7 This school England 35 2022/23 30.4 2023/24 30.2 2024/25 31.7

A level subjects, 2024/25

20 subjects, 136 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Art and Design (Graphics) 14 0% 0% 32%
Art and Design (Photography) 12 0% 0% 26%
Biology 12 8% 8% 27%
English Literature 12 8% 8% 23%
Psychology 10 10% 10% 19%
History 9 0% 11% 23%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 9 0% 11% 14%
Mathematics 8 25% 50% 40%
Art and Design 7 0% 14% 34%
Drama and Theatre Studies 7 0% 14% 19%
Art and Design (Critical Studies) 6 0% 0% –
Chemistry 6 17% 33% 30%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Textiles), English Language, Geography, Physical Education / Sports Studies, Physics, Computer Studies / Computing, Mathematics (Further), Art and Design (Fine Art).

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

145 students in this year group.

69% — 9 points below the Cornwall average, and 10 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCornwallEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 69% 78% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 9% 7%
Work 34% 38% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
75%69%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

92 students in this year group.

41% — 6 points below the Cornwall average, and 19 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCornwallEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 41% 47% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 9% 14% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
56%41%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Cornwall. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered237
Families who put it first234
Of those, offered a place234 (100%)
Families who listed it at all297

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Cornwall

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 51 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Severe learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolCornwallEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
28.4% 25.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 92% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.0% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
13th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.7% 15.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.6% 3.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 20th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 29% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.6% 9.2%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
11th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 38% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.9% 26.3%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 71% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.1 37.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 73% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.1% 10.3% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.07% 0.43% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
29th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 10% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.4 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
24th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.6 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 97% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
32.4% 14.9%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Bodmin College's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 1 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Bodmin College do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 45% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Bodmin College?

37% of the 257 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Bodmin College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Bodmin College oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 234 families put Bodmin College as their first choice for 237 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 234 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.