Cornwall Council’s best secondary schools 2025

Trying to find the right school for your child in Cornwall Council? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2023/2024 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Cornwall Council.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Cornwall Council. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

Top secondary schools in Cornwall Council by Progress 8

The Roseland Academy in Tregony is currently ranked #1 in Cornwall Council based on its published Progress 8 score of +0.41. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1The Roseland AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.41Outstanding17.69%
2Penrice AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.32-16.56%
3Poltair SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.26Good11.14%
4Launceston CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.22Good19.85%
5Newquay TretherrasAcademy converterMixed+0.17Good22.48%
6Mullion SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.15Good8.96%
7Penryn CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.14Good20.91%
8Richard Lander SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.07Good22.11%
9Penair SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.05Good24.07%
10Wadebridge SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.05Good17.18%
11Brannel SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.02Good12.19%
12Treviglas AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.01-15.19%
13Cape Cornwall SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.08Good10.1%
14Falmouth SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.08-28.77%
15Liskeard School and Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.09Good14.54%
16St Ives SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.12Good17.66%
17Hayle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.13Good14.01%
18Camborne Science and International AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.15Good20.47%
19Redruth SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.17Good16.91%
20Budehaven Community SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good9.52%
21Fowey River AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.22-10.95%
22Humphry Davy SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.27Good16.3%
23Callington Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.28Good13.35%
24Saltash Community SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.3-16.74%
25Sir James Smith's SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.43Good10.31%
26Bodmin CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.44-10.27%
27Torpoint Community CollegeFoundation schoolMixed-0.47Good12.95%
28Helston Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.48Good8.46%
29Mounts Bay AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.56Good16.59%
30Pool AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.59Requires improvement8.61%
31Looe Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.75Good5.57%
32Pencalenick SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-1.65-0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

Examiner-written GCSE revision resources that improve your grades 2x

  • Written by expert teachers and examiners
  • Aligned to exam specifications
  • Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t

Top secondary schools in Cornwall Council by GCSE % 9–7

Truro School in Truro is currently ranked #1 in Cornwall Council based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Truro SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--52.04%
2St Josephs SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--36.18%
3Truro High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--32.12%
4Falmouth SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.08-28.77%
5Penair SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.05Good24.07%
6The Cornwall Independent SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--23.66%
7Newquay TretherrasAcademy converterMixed+0.17Good22.48%
8Richard Lander SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.07Good22.11%
9Penryn CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.14Good20.91%
10Camborne Science and International AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.15Good20.47%
11Launceston CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.22Good19.85%
12The Roseland AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.41Outstanding17.69%
13St Ives SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.12Good17.66%
14Wadebridge SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.05Good17.18%
15Redruth SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.17Good16.91%
16Saltash Community SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.3-16.74%
17Mounts Bay AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.56Good16.59%
18Penrice AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.32-16.56%
19Humphry Davy SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.27Good16.3%
20Treviglas AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.01-15.19%
21Liskeard School and Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.09Good14.54%
22Hayle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.13Good14.01%
23Callington Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.28Good13.35%
24Torpoint Community CollegeFoundation schoolMixed-0.47Good12.95%
25Brannel SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.02Good12.19%
26Poltair SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.26Good11.14%
27Fowey River AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.22-10.95%
28Sir James Smith's SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.43Good10.31%
29Bodmin CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.44-10.27%
30Cape Cornwall SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.08Good10.1%
31Budehaven Community SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good9.52%
32Mullion SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.15Good8.96%
33Pool AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.59Requires improvement8.61%
34Helston Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.48Good8.46%
35Looe Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.75Good5.57%
36Oak Tree SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
37Pencalenick SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-1.65-0%
38Taliesin Education LtdOther independent special schoolBoys--0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

All secondary schools in Cornwall Council

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Cornwall Council, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Bodmin CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.44-10.27%
Brannel SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.02Good12.19%
Budehaven Community SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good9.52%
Callington Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.28Good13.35%
Camborne Science and International AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.15Good20.47%
Cape Cornwall SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.08Good10.1%
Cardrew Court SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Copper Field SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Curnow SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Outstanding-
Doubletrees SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
Falmouth SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.08-28.77%
Fountain Head House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Fowey River AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.22-10.95%
Hayle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.13Good14.01%
Helston Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.48Good8.46%
Humphry Davy SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.27Good16.3%
Launceston CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.22Good19.85%
Liskeard School and Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.09Good14.54%
Looe Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.75Good5.57%
Mounts Bay AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.56Good16.59%
Mullion SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.15Good8.96%
Nancealverne SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
Newquay TretherrasAcademy converterMixed+0.17Good22.48%
Oak Tree SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Penair SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.05Good24.07%
Pencalenick SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-1.65-0%
Penrice AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.32-16.56%
Penryn CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.14Good20.91%
Poltair SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.26Good11.14%
Polwhele House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Pool AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.59Requires improvement8.61%
Red Moor SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Redruth SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-0.17Good16.91%
Richard Lander SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.07Good22.11%
Saltash Community SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.3-16.74%
Sir James Smith's SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.43Good10.31%
St Ives SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.12Good17.66%
St Josephs SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--36.18%
Taliesin Education LtdOther independent special schoolBoys--0%
The Cornwall Independent SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--23.66%
The Lowen SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Roseland AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.41Outstanding17.69%
Three BridgesOther independent special schoolMixed---
Torpoint Community CollegeFoundation schoolMixed-0.47Good12.95%
Treviglas AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.01-15.19%
Truro High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--32.12%
Truro SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--52.04%
Wadebridge SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.05Good17.18%

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 results, or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Cornwall Council?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2023/2024 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Cornwall Council, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

Share this article

FAQs - best secondary schools in Cornwall Council

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Cornwall Council is The Roseland Academy by Progress 8 and Truro School by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Cornwall Council local authority. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Cornwall Council consistently score above +0.8.

Explore our GCSE study tools