Richard Lander School
Truro, TR3 6LT · Cornwall · secondary school
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3rd of 31 secondary schools in Cornwall we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 7.4/10 against 879 of them, against 7.2/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 61.6 · 83 | 30% | 2.50 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.07 · 55 | 25% | 1.38 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 53.7 · 82 | 10% | 0.82 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Richard Lander School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted (inspected 2023-11). In 2024/25, 55.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 51.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.07 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (6.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join Greenpower, Eco Schools, and Art clubs, or participate in UKMT challenges. Sports include football, gymnastics, volleyball, equestrian competitions, and the Cornwall Partnership Surf Competition. Arts activities feature an annual school production, art competitions, and bespoke workshops. Trips include Ten Tors and gallery visits to London. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,561 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,523. 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
What support is available for
What Ofsted said about Richard Lander School
Overview
Richard Lander School continues to be a good school, described as a "happy and inclusive" environment where staff maintain high expectations. Pupils achieve well and leave "well prepared for their next steps in education or employment," benefiting from strong relationships and a calm, purposeful atmosphere.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "varied and ambitious," with logical sequencing that allows pupils to build knowledge over time.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) follow the same curriculum as peers, supported by a "welcoming and nurturing" area resource base.
- There is an "extensive and exciting range of extra-curricular opportunities," including international trips and leadership roles.
- Staff have "strong subject knowledge" and deliver the curriculum successfully, while low-level disruption is rare.
- Effective careers guidance and personal development lessons help pupils build self-confidence and understand safety issues.
Areas to improve
- Assessment is not always used effectively to re-teach pupils or improve the curriculum, leading to persistent gaps in knowledge for some.
- The school has not fully developed a culture of reading for pleasure, meaning many pupils do not read widely beyond the academic curriculum.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 47.3 |
| 2024/25 | 51.0 |
| 2025/26 | 53.7 |
| 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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