SchoolScoresSt Hilary School
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed
Part of TRURO & PENWITH ACADEMY TRUST
School Lane, St Hilary, Penzance, TR20 9DR
01736 763324 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 September 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 |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Penzance comparisons use the 8 of its 19 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 11 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 | Penzance | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 94% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 24% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 47% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 41 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 82% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 86% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Penzance figures pool parents at the Penzance 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.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
29 pupils in this year group.
62% — 2 points above the Cornwall average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 14% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 86% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 66% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 69% | 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. | 105 | 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 27 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 22 |
| Of those, offered a place | 22 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 43 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
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 16th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.2% | 22.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 3.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.2% | 15.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 16th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 4.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 60% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 74% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.9% | 12.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 26% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.0 | 3.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 38% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 76% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.9 | 20.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 12 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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
- Marazion School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
- Germoe Community Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Erth Community Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ludgvan School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Hilary School's Ofsted rating?
St Hilary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 September 2023.
How did St Hilary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Hilary School?
93% of the 61 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Hilary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Hilary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 22 families put St Hilary School as their first choice for 27 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 22 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 136879.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.