Wadebridge School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of WADEBRIDGE SCHOOL

Gonvena Hill, Wadebridge, PL27 6BU

01208 812881 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 10 December 2019; confirmed 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%England 45% · 2024/25
14th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 48% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,018Room for 1,050 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,085 in 2019, 1,064 in 2021, 1,066 in 2022, 1,070 in 2023, 1,073 in 2024, 1,050 in 2025, 1,018 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0189 for 191 places, September 2026
14th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 59% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 December 2019.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 30 April 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

247 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Cornwall comparisons use the 18 of its 32 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 14 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.

StatementThis schoolCornwallEngland
My child is happy at this school
2nd highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 60% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86% 68% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 74% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
5th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 68% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 95 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 2nd highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 80% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
60% 41% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 200 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 1st highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 73% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 57% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 46 parents of children with SEND
5th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 30% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
52% 46% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
5th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cornwall.
Higher than 62% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
84%said yes 65% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 24%). 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

216 pupils in this year group.

43% — about the same as the Cornwall average, and 2 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCornwallEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 43% 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. 44.7 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
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 43%This school 2023/24: 45%This school 2024/25: 43% This school England 45% 2022/23 43% 2023/24 45% 2024/25 43%

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.

206 pupils in this year group.

90% — about the same as the Cornwall average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 42%33%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCornwallEngland
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 1% 15% 34%
Sixth form college 42% 11% 13%
Further education college 33% 54% 37%
Apprenticeship 7% 5% 3%
Work 5% 5% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%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 offered191
Families who put it first189
Of those, offered a place189 (100%)
Families who listed it at all326

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Cornwall

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCornwallEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
18th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
24.9% 25.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
22nd highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.2% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.1% 15.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 14th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.9% 3.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 12th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 39% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.9% 9.2%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
16th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 32% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
27.1% 26.3%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
11th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
25.4 37.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
15th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.1% 10.3% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils 0.67% 0.43% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 18th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 41% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.4 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
30th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 6% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.2 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
27th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Cornwall.
Higher than 22% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
8.9% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Wadebridge School's Ofsted rating?

Wadebridge School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 December 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

How did Wadebridge School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Wadebridge School?

84% of the 247 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Wadebridge School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Wadebridge School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 189 families put Wadebridge School as their first choice for 191 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 189 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.