SchoolScoresRichard Lander School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Higher Besore Road, Truro, TR3 6LT
01872 273750 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 March 2015.
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 | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 October 2023: 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
41 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 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 96% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 60% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 96% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 65% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 92% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 57% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 41 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 69% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 53% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall. Higher than 95% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%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
280 pupils in this year group.
55% — 12 points above the Cornwall average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 55% | 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. | 51 | 45.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.4 | 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.
302 pupils in this year group.
93% — 2 points above the Cornwall average, and about the same as 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. | 93% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 15% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 11% | 13% |
| Further education college | 83% | 54% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 5% | 5% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 93% |
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 | 308 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 326 |
| Of those, offered a place | 306 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 544 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 20 places for autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Physical disability; 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 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.2% | 25.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Higher than 75% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.2% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.7% | 15.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Lower than 52% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.2% | 9.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.0% | 26.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Lower than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 29.0 | 37.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Lower than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 10.3% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.43% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Higher than 39% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.3 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Higher than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Truro. Higher than 5% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 5.2% | 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
- Truro High School 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 36% A*/A at A level
- Truro School 2.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 51% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Richard Lander School's Ofsted rating?
Richard Lander School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 March 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 October 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Richard Lander School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 55% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Richard Lander School?
100% of the 41 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Richard Lander School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Richard Lander School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 326 families put Richard Lander School as their first choice for 308 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 306 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 112055.
- 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.