St Columb Minor Academy
Newquay, TR7 3JF · Cornwall · primary school
Check the area around this school
38th of 218 primary schools in Cornwall we can score, 236 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 6.9/10 against 3,424 of them, against 6.4/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 70.0 · 65 | 62% | 4.02 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 38% | 2.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Columb Minor Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 70.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. A further 9.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 393 pupils against a stated capacity of 630. 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 who are not yet meeting expected standards in literacy? What does a typical day look like for a child in the middle years? How does the academy handle transitions between key stages?
What Ofsted said about St Columb Minor Academy
Overview
Inspectors describe St Columb Minor Academy as a “tight-knit community” where pupils “beam with pride” and enjoy high attendance. Following a period of “rapid, sustained improvement” under new leadership, the school has successfully addressed previous declines in education quality and behaviour. The report highlights a “warm, calm and orderly environment” where staff feel valued and workload has decreased.
Strengths
- The curriculum is now “logically ordered and ambitious,” with teachers knowing “precisely what to teach.”
- Reading is central to the curriculum; phonics outcomes remain “above national averages” and staff “swiftly identify any gaps in knowledge.”
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs met through “skilful adaptations.”
- Staff workload has decreased, helping to create a “united vision for the direction of the school.”
- Parents are “effusive in their praise,” noting that “school spirit has returned.”
Areas to improve
- The trust must ensure recent curriculum changes are fully embedded to address “historical gaps in their learning” in subjects like geography.
- Teachers need support to provide work that consistently matches the “high ambition of the curriculum intent,” as some tasks currently limit pupil learning.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 55% |
| 2023/24 | 58% |
| 2024/25 | 70% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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