Newquay Tretherras
101%
Capacity
1,653
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Newquay Tretherras
Newquay Tretherras is a large secondary school in Cornwall that is clearly in demand. With 1,653 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,634, it is effectively full, and the 2025/26 admissions data confirms it is oversubscribed: 289 first-preference offers were made from 457 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.58. The school serves a community with a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 19.8%, compared with the national secondary average of around 23%, so it sits slightly below that national figure but still reflects a significant level of disadvantage. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and has a sixth form, making it a comprehensive option for families looking for an all-through secondary experience in the Newquay area. Its headteacher, Gemma Harries, leads a school that has held a Good Ofsted rating since its last graded inspection in 2013, and a January 2024 ungraded inspection confirmed it remains Good.
Academically, Newquay Tretherras performs well above the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.17 is rated as 'Above average' and compares very favourably with the Cornwall LA average of -0.12, placing the school 5th out of 31 schools in the county. In the South West region it ranks 99th out of 306, and nationally it sits in the top 36% of schools. The Attainment 8 score is 49.5, and 72.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 50.6% achieving grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 30.3%, and 21.9% of pupils entered the EBacc achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.28, rated 'Below average', with an average points per entry of 32.06 (equivalent to a C+ grade). The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade, and 10.7% of entries achieved AAB or higher.
The school offers a strong range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include netball, football, rugby, swimming, and dance, while extracurricular clubs cover everything from Art Club and Eco Club to Model UN, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families in and around Newquay, this is a well-regarded, oversubscribed secondary that delivers strong GCSE results relative to the local area, though the sixth form value-added is below average. It suits families who want a large, inclusive school with good facilities and a proven track record at KS4, and who are comfortable with the competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Trevenson Road, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 3BH |
| Headteacher | Gemma Harries |
| Local Authority | Cornwall |
| Number of Pupils | 1,653 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,653 / 1,634 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
31 Jan 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (31 Jan 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 9 Oct 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.17)
1140th of 3,141
Nationally
99th of 306
In South West
5th of 31
In Cornwall
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
40.7
'22/23
38.9
'23/24
32.1
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
2022/2332%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 278 pupils).
- FE college50%
- School sixth form (stay)32%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained5%
95% 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
2022/2345%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 120 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
17%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)45%
- Employment30%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education4%
- Apprenticeship4%
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- Mathematics26
- Biology15
- Economics12
- Psychology12
- Physics11
- Sociology11
- Chemistry9
- Art and Design (Photography)8
- Drama and Theatre Studies8
- English Literature8
- Geography8
- Religious Studies8
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.
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
2025/26Oversubscribed289
457
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
289 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30
Source: tretherras.net. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.1%
- White (other)5.2%
- Mixed4.2%
- Asian0.5%
- 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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 Newquay Tretherras
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
Trevenson Road, Newquay
Cornwall, TR7 3BH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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