Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #1 in Cornwall public Top 11% UK

Penrice Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMiss Lucy Gambier

corporate_fareCORNWALL EDUCATION LEARNING TRUST

location_onSt Austell, PL25 3NR

language Visit Website phone 172672163

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,428

trending_up

Attainment 8

50.9

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GCSE Rank

#2 in Cornwall

#827 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Penrice Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in St Austell, serving ages 11-16. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

Penrice Academy is an academy converter in St Austell, Cornwall, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of CORNWALL EDUCATION LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 1,422 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.9, placing the school #2 in Cornwall and #827 of 3,216 nationally. 52.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 23.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 2.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

50.9

Grade 5+ E&M

52.20%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)23.1%

Entering EBacc88.60%

EBacc APS4.85

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.32

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc84.40%

EBacc APS4.64

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.54

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc40%

EBacc APS4.76

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.6

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS5.12

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc43%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.49

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS4.46

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.34

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS4.33

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 February 2025

Inspection Report

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13 March 2014

Inspection Report

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11 February 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-02-11

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2014-03-13

Exempt School Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-03-08

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.1%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.9%(27 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,422 pupils. During this period, there were 44 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.1%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,422	44	3.1%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,424	27	1.9%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,412	21	1.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,426	14	1.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,437	9	0.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,420	16	1.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,428	46	3.2%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,435	33	2.3%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,424	45	3.2%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,425	13	0.9%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,428	10	0.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,414	11	0.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,423	2	0.1%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,432	18	1.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,408	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,408	30	2.1%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,405	16	1.1%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,408	9	0.6%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,407	12	0.9%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,417	10	0.7%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,419	22	1.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,420	36	2.5%	3.0%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,424	45	3.2%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,404	22	1.6%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,416	23	1.6%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,422	32	2.3%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 72 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 54 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 53 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 52 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Physical Disability 12 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

34.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

33.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree22%

agree17%

disagree33%

strongly disagree22%

don't know6%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree6%

agree56%

disagree28%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree6%

agree28%

disagree22%

strongly disagree39%

don't know6%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree39%

agree50%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree17%

agree28%

disagree33%

strongly disagree22%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree17%

agree44%

disagree22%

strongly disagree17%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree22%

agree72%

disagree6%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree33%

agree61%

disagree6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree11%

agree11%

disagree17%

strongly disagree44%

don't know17%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes22%

no78%

Top Secondary Schools in Cornwall

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Richard Lander School

Good

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emoji_events #2 in LA

Camborne Science and International Academy

Good

location_on Camborne, TR14 7PP

emoji_events #3 in LA

Launceston College

Good

location_on Launceston, PL15 9JR

emoji_events #4 in LA

Penryn College

Good

location_on Penryn, TR10 8PZ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Penair School

Good

location_on Truro, TR1 1TN

emoji_events #6 in LA

Falmouth School

Requires improvement

location_on Falmouth, TR11 4LH

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Cornwall arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Cornwall

Richard Lander School

Camborne Science and International Academy

Launceston College

Penryn College

Penair School

Falmouth School