SchoolScoresCape Cornwall School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of TRURO & PENWITH ACADEMY TRUST
Cape Cornwall Street, St Just, Penzance, TR19 7JX
01736 788501 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 January 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
57 pupils in this year group.
32% — 12 points below the Cornwall average, and 14 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 32% | 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. | 38.4 | 45.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
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.
29 pupils in this year group.
90% — about the same as the Cornwall average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 90% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 15% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 11% | 13% |
| Further education college | 83% | 54% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 5% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 83% | 90% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 offered | 62 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 62 |
| Of those, offered a place | 62 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 113 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 20 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Visual impairment; Other difficulties or disabilities; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Higher than 66% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.8% | 25.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Higher than 99% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.9% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 15.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.3% | 3.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Lower than 21% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 9.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Lower than 19% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 30.1% | 26.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 35.6 | 37.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Lower than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8% | 10.3% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.70% | 0.43% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Higher than 5% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Higher than 1% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.8 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Penzance. Higher than 99% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 46.1% | 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).
Questions parents ask
What is Cape Cornwall School's Ofsted rating?
Cape Cornwall School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 January 2023.
How did Cape Cornwall School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Cape Cornwall School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 62 families put Cape Cornwall School as their first choice for 62 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 62 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 146325.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.