Penryn College
110%
Capacity
1,153
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Penryn College
Penryn College is a Good school according to its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, and that rating is backed up by solid academic data. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.14 is the most informative single metric here — it means pupils at Penryn achieve about a seventh of a grade higher per subject than the national average, and it places the school comfortably above the Cornwall local authority average of -0.12. That score also ranks Penryn 7th out of 31 secondary schools in Cornwall, putting it in the top quarter of the county. The school’s leadership and management were judged Outstanding in the 2022 inspection, and the ungraded visit confirmed the school remains Good. Previously, in 2009, the school was rated Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating still represents strong performance, especially given the context of a large 11-16 comprehensive.
Looking more closely at the exam results for 2023/24, Penryn’s Attainment 8 score sits at 45.7, which is a solid middle-ground figure. The basics measure — the percentage of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in both English and maths — stands at 41.2%, while the grade 4 or above figure is 62.4%. In English, the Progress 8 score is a positive 0.25, meaning pupils make stronger progress in English than the national average, though maths progress is slightly negative at -0.14. The EBacc entry rate is 23%, and 16.4% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s Progress 8 banding is rated as Average, which is a fair summary: Penryn is not a high-flying outlier, but it consistently delivers above-average progress for its pupils compared with similar schools nationally, and well above the local authority trend.
Penryn College is a large secondary, with 1,153 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,050, and it is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 439 applications for 214 places, with 289 first-preference applications. That works out at just over two applicants per place. The school has a broad range of facilities including a theatre, sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, and a chapel, plus specialist art studios and ICT suites. Sports on offer include tennis, rugby, cricket, swimming, and martial arts, and there are clubs ranging from Debate and Model UN to DofE and Coding. The SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and a dedicated SEN unit. With 19.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Penryn is a good fit for families who want a large, well-run comprehensive with strong English outcomes and a wide extracurricular offer, but who are realistic about it being a solidly Good rather than Outstanding school.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Kernick Road, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 8PZ |
| Headteacher | Claire Croxall |
| Local Authority | Cornwall |
| Number of Pupils | 1,153 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,153 / 1,050 (110% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (15 Jun 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 18 May 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.14)
1225th of 3,141
Nationally
111th of 306
In South West
7th 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 254 pupils).
- FE college80%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained4%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
96% 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.
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed214
439
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
289 families put this school as their 1st choice (66% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:10
Source: penryn-college.cornwall.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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 British91.7%
- Mixed3.6%
- White (other)2.9%
- Asian0.4%
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.
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 Penryn College
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
Kernick Road, Penryn
Cornwall, TR10 8PZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Penryn College!
Write a Review