Penrice Academy
St Austell, PL25 3NR · Cornwall · secondary school
Check the area around this school
4th of 31 secondary schools in Cornwall we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.1/10 against 910 of them, against 6.5/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 47.6 · 57 | 46% | 2.63 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.32 · 74 | 38% | 2.85 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.1 · 66 | 15% | 1.01 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Penrice Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 52.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.32 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Coding, Crochet, Street Art, and Penrice Plus clubs. They participate in Ten Tors, receive Music Tuition, and take part in Curriculum Enrichment Week and Duke of Edinburgh activities.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,405 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,440. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Penrice Academy
Overview
Penrice Academy is described as a highly effective school where pupils excel and are "exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education." The report highlights an "ambitious curriculum" that goes beyond national expectations, underpinned by a core moral purpose to tackle social inequality. Leaders and staff work with "relentless focus" to ensure every pupil, regardless of background or need, realises their potential.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "especially well-planned," with subjects "sequenced logically" to ensure pupils "remember the curriculum extremely well."
- Staff possess "strong and deep subject knowledge" and teach "carefully, skilfully and highly effectively," enabling rapid gains even from low starting points.
- Behaviour is "exemplary," with a policy applied with a "high degree of consistency," resulting in a "calm, happy and harmonious" environment where bullying is "very rare."
- Personal development is nurtured through a "richness of the school’s offer," including the ‘Penrice Plus’ programme, which promotes equality and prepares pupils for life in "modern Britain."
- Reading is prioritised with "embedded approaches," allowing pupils of all abilities to become "skilled and passionate readers."
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.5 |
| 2024/25 | 50.9 |
| 2025/26 | 49.1 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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