SchoolScoresPenryn College
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of PENRYN COLLEGE
Kernick Road, Penryn, TR10 8PZ
01326 372379 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 25 April 2012.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 June 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Cornwall comparisons use the 5 of its 32 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 27 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.
| Statement | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 13% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 60% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 14% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 65% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 11% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 57% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 39% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 40% | 32% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 27 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 13% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 53% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 15% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59%said yes | 62% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 3%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
226 pupils in this year group.
49% — 5 points above the Cornwall average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49% | 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. | 49.2 | 45.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.1 | 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.
225 pupils in this year group.
88% — 3 points below the Cornwall average, and 4 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. | 88% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 3% | 15% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 11% | 13% |
| Further education college | 75% | 54% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 5% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 90% | 88% |
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 | 221 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 221 |
| Of those, offered a place | 221 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 393 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.4 · 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 32 places for moderate 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 30th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.5% | 25.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 19th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.7% | 15.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 25th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.7% | 3.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 25th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Lower than 18% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5% | 9.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 21st lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Lower than 26% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.3% | 26.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 17th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 33.8 | 37.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 10.3% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.17% | 0.43% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 10th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Higher than 63% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.4 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 11th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Higher than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 26th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall. Higher than 24% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 9.2% | 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
- Falmouth School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Penryn College's Ofsted rating?
Penryn College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 April 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 June 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Penryn College do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Penryn College?
59% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Penryn College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Penryn College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 221 families put Penryn College as their first choice for 221 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 221 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 136852.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 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.