Gulval School
124%
Capacity
222
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Gulval School
Gulval School, a state primary in Cornwall, has been rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous overall rating of Inadequate in 2012. The school’s most recent ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all judged as Good. Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 tell a strong story: 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, well above the Cornwall local authority average of 58%. This places Gulval in the top 25% of schools nationally for this metric, ranking 18th out of 208 primary schools in Cornwall. The school also performs well on higher standards, with 17% of pupils achieving the higher standard in all three subjects, and particularly strong reading scores, where 33% reached the higher standard.
Digging into the detail, Gulval’s average scaled scores in reading (107) and maths (105) are both above the national average of 100, and the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in each subject is consistently high: 83% in reading, 88% in maths, and 83% in writing. While progress scores are not available in the data, the school’s strong attainment suggests effective teaching. The Ofsted report noted that early years provision is Good, and the school has a sensory room, forest school, and a range of clubs including drama, gardening, choir, science club, and eco club. Sports offered include tennis, football, dance, cricket, and netball. The school also has a chapel on site, though it has no religious character.
Gulval is a popular choice for local families. For the 2025/26 academic year, it received 58 applications for just 25 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.32 applicants per place. All 22 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the school is clearly in demand. It caters for children from age 2 with nursery provision, and has a range of SEND provisions including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, social and emotional mental health, and physical disabilities. With 18.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes in a supportive, well-resourced environment, but early application is essential given its popularity.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | School Lane, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 3BJ |
| Headteacher | Paul Baker |
| Local Authority | Cornwall |
| Number of Pupils | 222 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.7% |
| School Capacity | 222 / 179 (124% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (16 Nov 2022): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jun 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (79%)
1774th of 13,686
Nationally
159th of 1,469
In South West
18th of 208
In Cornwall
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
79%
Expected Standard
17%
Higher Standard
'22/23
77%
'23/24
79%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
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
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed25
58
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
22 families put this school as their 1st choice (38% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:45-09:00
After-school care
15:00-17:30
Source: gulvalschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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 British93.7%
- Mixed4.2%
- White (other)1.8%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Gulval School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
School Lane, Penzance
Cornwall, TR18 3BJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
