Poltair School

About Poltair School

Poltair School in Cornwall has turned a corner in a big way. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in early 2024, awarded the school an overall rating of Good, a significant jump from its previous Requires Improvement grade in 2018. The inspection report was particularly strong on behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, all of which were rated Outstanding. But the most telling academic metric is the school’s Progress 8 score of 0.26, which is classified as ‘Above average’ nationally. That means pupils at Poltair make significantly more academic progress between Year 7 and Year 11 than the typical student in England, and it’s a particularly impressive figure when you consider the local picture: the average Progress 8 score for all secondary schools in Cornwall is -0.12, meaning Poltair is performing well above its neighbours.

Digging into the exam results, Poltair’s Attainment 8 score sits at 43.4, which reflects the average grade achieved across a student’s best eight GCSE subjects. Just over half of pupils (52%) secured a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and 30.3% achieved the same at the more demanding grade 5 or above threshold. The school’s EBacc average point score is 3.79, and 47.4% of students entered the full EBacc suite of subjects. In terms of ranking, Poltair places 3rd out of 31 secondary schools in Cornwall when measured by Progress 8, putting it in the top 10% of the local authority. Nationally, it sits in the top 30% of all state secondary schools. The school doesn’t have a sixth form, so students move on after Year 11, but the strong progress scores suggest they leave well prepared for A-levels or other post-16 routes.

Poltair is a popular school and was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 440 applications for 175 places, a ratio of 2.51 applicants per place. It offered 174 first-preference places, so getting in requires a strong local connection. The school serves a mixed community, with 32.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, above the national average. Facilities are generous for a state school and include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and a gymnasium. The sports programme is broad, covering hockey, cricket, rugby, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, eco club, and choir. SEND provision is comprehensive, with support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. For families in mid-Cornwall looking for a secondary school with strong academic momentum and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, Poltair is a compelling option.

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