SchoolScoresGulval School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of TRURO & PENWITH ACADEMY TRUST
School Lane, Gulval, Penzance, TR18 3BJ
01736 364747 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 May 2017.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 November 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
24 pupils in this year group.
75% — 15 points above the Cornwall average, and 13 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 75% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 79% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 32 |
| Of those, offered a place | 27 (84%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 78 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.1
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
| Pupils | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 12th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.1% | 22.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 7th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 62% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 3.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 15th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 28% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.3% | 15.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 15th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 4.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 60% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.1% | 12.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 20% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 85% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.9 | 20.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 49% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.7 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 12 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 93% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 34.7% | 15.2%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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.
Nearby primary schools
- St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Pensans Community Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Heamoor Community Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2021 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Alverton Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Madron Daniel CofE (VA) School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Newlyn School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ludgvan School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Trythall Community Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 100% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marazion School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Gulval School's Ofsted rating?
Gulval School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 May 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 November 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Gulval School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Gulval School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 32 families put Gulval School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 27 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 140837.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.