Falmouth School
66%
Capacity
893
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Falmouth School
Falmouth School is a mixed secondary and sixth form in Cornwall, and its intake data tells a story of a school that is both popular and serving a community with significant need. With 893 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,344, the school is operating at roughly two-thirds of its maximum size, leaving room for growth. However, demand is clearly strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 218 applications for 160 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.36, with 103 first-preference offers made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22.5%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools, indicating that Falmouth draws from a catchment with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. This context matters when interpreting the school's academic results, as it suggests staff are working with a cohort that faces additional challenges compared to more affluent areas.
Academically, Falmouth School sits in the middle of the pack. Its Progress 8 score of -0.08 is slightly below the national average of zero but exactly matches the Cornwall local authority average of -0.12, meaning pupils here make about the same progress as peers across the county. The Attainment 8 score of 48.9 translates to just under a grade 5 per subject, and 51.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is low at 28.4%, with only 16.6% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is more encouraging: the value-added score of 0.14 is positive, and the average points per entry of 31.63 equates to a grade C. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 saw it upgraded from Requires Improvement to Good across all areas, including behaviour, leadership, and sixth-form provision.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Its SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering ten areas from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder, and the parent view data suggests a mixed but generally positive experience: 71% of respondents would recommend the school, and 72% agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well. However, only 58% felt concerns were dealt with properly, and 36% disagreed that SEND children get the support they need. For families, Falmouth School is a good fit if you live in the area and want a large, inclusive secondary with a strong sixth form and a wide range of clubs and sports, but it is worth noting that oversubscription means securing a place is not guaranteed. The school's recent Ofsted upgrade and average Progress 8 score make it a solid, improving choice within Cornwall.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Trescobeas Road, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4LH |
| Headteacher | Joanne Guest |
| Local Authority | Cornwall |
| Number of Pupils | 893 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.5% |
| School Capacity | 893 / 1,344 (66% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Apr 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1739th of 3,141
Nationally
170th of 306
In South West
14th of 31
In Cornwall
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.6
'22/23
28.6
'23/24
31.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2328%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 141 pupils).
- FE college58%
- School sixth form (stay)28%
- Not sustained6%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship3%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2325%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 69 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
18%
Russell Group
22%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- Employment32%
- University (HE)25%
- Further education23%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Not sustained6%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics13
- Biology9
- English Language9
- Psychology8
- Chemistry7
- Geography7
- Art and Design (Photography)5
- Physics5
- Mathematics (Further)4
- Sociology4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
251 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed160
218
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
103 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.2%
- White (other)4.4%
- Mixed3.0%
- Asian1.1%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Falmouth School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Trescobeas Road, Falmouth
Cornwall, TR11 4LH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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