Schools in Cornwall
274 schools in 38 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Cornwall at a glance
- Schools
- 274 234 state primary, 31 state secondary, 3 sixth-form or college and 6 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 94% 194 of the 207 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 32 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 35 Of 257 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 0% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 0 of 265 state schools that take an intake. Cornwall's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Cornwall
Primary
| Place in Cornwall | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trythall Community Primary School | Penzance | 1st (1/212) |
| 2 | Millbrook CofE Primary School | Torpoint | Top 1% (2/212) |
| 3 | Mousehole School | Penzance | Top 2% (3/212) |
| 4 | Duloe CofE VA Primary Academy | Liskeard | Top 2% (4/212) |
| 5 | Egloskerry Primary School | Launceston | Top 3% (5/212) |
| 6 | Crowan Primary School | Camborne | Top 3% (6/212) |
| 7 | St Levan Primary School | Penzance | Top 4% (7/212) |
| 8 | Halwin School | Helston | Top 4% (8/212) |
| 8 | St Dominic CofE Primary School | Top 4% (8/212) | |
| 10 | St Issey Church of England Primary School | Wadebridge | Top 5% (10/212) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Cornwall primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Cornwall | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Lander School | Truro | 1st (1/31) |
| 2 | Camborne Science and International Academy | Camborne | Top 7% (2/31) |
| 3 | Penair School | Truro | Top 10% (3/31) |
| 4 | Falmouth School | Falmouth | Top 13% (4/31) |
| 5 | Penrice Academy | St Austell | Top 17% (5/31) |
| 6 | Newquay Tretherras | Newquay | Top 20% (6/31) |
| 7 | Launceston College | Launceston | Top 23% (7/31) |
| 8 | Wadebridge School | Wadebridge | Top 26% (8/31) |
| 9 | Redruth School | Redruth | Top 30% (9/31) |
| 10 | Pool Academy | Redruth | Top 33% (10/31) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Cornwall secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Bodmin 18 schools · best schools
- Bude 8 schools · best schools
- Camborne 12 schools · best schools
- Falmouth 10 schools · best schools
- Hayle 8 schools · best schools
- Helston 20 schools · best schools
- Launceston 16 schools · best schools
- Liskeard 14 schools · best schools
- Newquay 12 schools · best schools
- Penzance 21 schools · best schools
- Redruth 12 schools · best schools
- Saltash 9 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Cornwall council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Cornwall council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Cornwall council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Cornwall council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Cornwall council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Cornwall council |
Every Cornwall admission date · After offer day in Cornwall: replies, waiting lists and appeals
Cornwall catchment maps: the 247 school catchments we hold, with each map's source and year.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 0 of 265 state schools (0%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Cornwall: we hold checked fees for 6 of 6 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 192 nurseries and pre-schools in Cornwall, with fees held for 14. Nurseries in Cornwall by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Cornwall
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.