Newquay Junior Academy

About Newquay Junior Academy

Parents at Newquay Junior Academy are overwhelmingly positive about the school, with 85% of respondents saying they would recommend it to other parents. This comes from the Parent View survey covering September 2024 to September 2025, which gathered 113 responses. The strongest signals are around happiness and safety: 91% of parents either agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and a similar 91% felt their child is safe. Extracurricular provision also scores highly, with 93% agreeing there is a good range of clubs and activities, and 93% saying their child can take part. The school is oversubscribed in terms of demand relative to its capacity — it has 463 pupils against a published capacity of 600, so while there is some headroom, the strong parent satisfaction suggests it is a popular local choice. Headteacher Tania Findlay MBE leads the school, which is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 7 to 11 in Cornwall.

Academically, Newquay Junior Academy performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Cornwall average of 58%. The school ranks 33rd out of 208 primary schools in the local authority, placing it in the top 16% of Cornwall primaries. Nationally, it sits in the top 22% of all schools. Reading scores are a particular strength: the average reading score was 108, with 42% of pupils reaching the higher standard. Maths also performed well, with an average score of 106 and 34% achieving the higher threshold. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in November 2019, the school was rated Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. An ungraded inspection in April 2025 found that the school had improved significantly since that last full inspection.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sensory room, art studios, music rooms, a library, playing fields and a gymnasium. Sports provision covers football, cricket, swimming, athletics, tennis and netball, while clubs include coding, book club, chess and film club. SEND support is well established, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. In the Parent View survey, 69% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, though 22% disagreed or strongly disagreed — a notable minority. The school has a chapel on site, reflecting its historic foundation, though it has no religious character. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Trenance Learning Academy, just 0.6 km away. Newquay Junior Academy suits families who value strong academic outcomes, a wide range of activities and a school where most parents feel their children are happy and safe.

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