Redruth School
86%
Capacity
1,465
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Redruth School
Redruth School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 601 applications for 293 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.05, meaning more than two families applied for every spot. Of those, 321 put Redruth as their first preference, and 289 first-preference offers were made. Parent feedback from the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, is broadly positive: 86% of the 190 respondents said they would recommend the school. When asked about their child’s happiness, 84% either agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and a similar proportion felt their child is safe. Parents also rated the range of subjects and extracurricular activities highly, with 92% agreeing there is a good range of subjects and 96% saying their child can take part in clubs and activities.
Academically, Redruth School’s Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.17, which places it in the ‘Average’ band nationally. This is slightly below the Cornwall local authority average of -0.12, and the school ranks 19th out of 31 secondary schools in the county. Its Attainment 8 score was 45.3, and 42.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 11.3%, with 7.7% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in December 2018, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16.
The school is a large secondary, with 1,465 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,699. It has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 27%. Facilities include a theatre, library, ICT suite, astro turf, tennis courts and a chapel. Sports on offer include basketball, gymnastics, netball, swimming, hockey, athletics and football, while clubs range from debate and science club to orchestra, newspaper, gardening and art club. For SEND, the school has a dedicated SEN unit and supports a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Redruth School suits families looking for a large, oversubscribed state secondary with a strong extracurricular offer and a Good Ofsted rating, though its Progress 8 score is slightly below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Tolgus Vean, Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 1TA |
| Headteacher | Craig Bonds |
| Local Authority | Cornwall |
| Number of Pupils | 1,465 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,465 / 1,699 (86% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (6 Nov 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 21 Jan 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.17)
1941st of 3,141
Nationally
199th of 306
In South West
19th of 31
In Cornwall
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/233%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 215 pupils).
- FE college73%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment4%
- School sixth form (stay)3%
92% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
190 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed293
601
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
321 families put this school as their 1st choice (53% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 14:55
Source: redruth.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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.3%
- White (other)3.7%
- Mixed2.3%
- 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.
5
Total schools
4
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 Redruth School
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
Tolgus Vean, Redruth
Cornwall, TR15 1TA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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