Sir James Smith's School
Camelford, PL32 9UJ · Cornwall · secondary school
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23rd 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 — 2.5/10 against 879 of them, against 2.9/10 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 | 41.4 · 41 | 30% | 1.23 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.43 · 19 | 25% | 0.48 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.9 · 19 | 10% | 0.19 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sir James Smith's School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2022-11. In 2024/25, 43.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.43 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (3.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 588 pupils against a stated capacity of 696. 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 close the gap between their Progress 8 score and the national benchmark? What specific strategies are used to improve attainment in English and maths? How does the school ensure that the Good Ofsted rating is maintained in daily teaching?
What Ofsted said about Sir James Smith's School
Overview
Sir James Smith’s School continues to be a good school, offering a "calm and friendly environment" where pupils are "proud to attend." Leaders maintain high expectations, fostering strong relationships and a culture where bullying is rare and low-level disruption is effectively managed.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy a "broad and ambitious curriculum" with strong support for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including tailored mentoring and reading programmes.
- The school provides a "rich programme to support their wider development," including extra-curricular activities like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and scuba-diving trips.
- Staff receive effective professional development through partnerships with other schools, and workload and well-being are considered when introducing new initiatives.
- Leaders have established strong links with primary schools to ensure a "smooth transition" and provide comprehensive careers guidance, meeting the requirements of the Baker Clause.
Areas to improve
- In some subject areas, the core knowledge pupils need to learn is "not broken down into sufficient detail," leading to inconsistency in content taught across different classes.
- A minority of parents feel they do not receive "sufficient or detailed enough information" about their child’s progress, which can impact the partnership between school and home.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong culture of vigilance," detailed record-keeping, and effective links with external agencies to ensure pupils receive necessary support.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.8 |
| 2024/25 | 42.7 |
| 2025/26 | 39.9 |
| 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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