Located in St Austell, Penrice Academy is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
Penrice Academy currently has around 1422 pupils on roll, which is about 99% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 52.5% boys and 47.5% girls. Around 21.0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 6.2%. Persistent absence is recorded at 16.8%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (89.9%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 93% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (86%) , including 3% who stay in school sixth forms and 83% progressing to further education , while 6% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Charlestown Road, St Austell, PL25 3NR |
| Website: | www.penriceacademy.org |
| Telephone: | 0172672163 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Cornwall |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Ms Tanya Coleman |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136573 |
Ofsted inspection date: 11/02/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1440 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1422 |
| Number of Boys: | 747 |
| Number of Girls: | 675 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 6.2% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 16.8% | 8.2% |
| White British | 89.90% | 1278 |
| Other White | 5.10% | 72 |
| Unclassified | 1.50% | 21 |
| White and Asian | 1.00% | 14 |
| Other Mixed | 0.90% | 13 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.60% | 9 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.30% | 4 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.20% | 3 |
| Indian | 0.20% | 3 |
| Irish | 0.10% | 2 |
| Other Asian | 0.10% | 2 |
| African | 0.10% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| White and Black African | 0.00% | 0 |
| Pakistani | 0.00% | 0 |
| Chinese | 0.00% | 0 |
| Caribbean | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Black | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Charles School Morven Road , PL25 4PP | - not rated | 450 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Mount Charles School Morven Road , PL25 4PP | - not rated | 450 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Sandy Hill Academy Sandy Hill , PL25 3AT | 4out of 4 | 637 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Sandy Hill Community Primary School Sandy Hill , PL25 3AT | - not rated | 637 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Charlestown Primary School Crinnis Road , Carlyon Bay PL25 3PB | - not rated | 1,195 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penrice Community College Charlestown Road , PL25 3NR | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Penrice Academy Charlestown Road , PL25 3NR | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Poltair School Trevarthian Road , PL25 4BZ | - not rated | 1,483 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Austell Sixth Form College Trevarthian Road , PL25 4BZ | - not rated | 1,483 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Poltair School Trevarthian Road , PL25 4BZ | 3out of 4 | 1,579 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Austell College Trevarthian Road , PL25 4BU | - not rated | 1,461 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Mid Cornwall College Palace Road , PL25 4BW | - not rated | 1,624 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Cornwall College Corporate Headquarters , Cornwall College St Austell PL25 4DJ | - not rated | 1,646 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restormel Academy Great Eastern & Great Western , The Sidings PL25 4TJ | 3out of 4 | 941 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Restormel PRU 16 Carlyon Road , PL25 4AJ | - not rated | 1,090 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Treverbyn Primary (TEC) Drummers Hill , Scredda PL26 8XR | - not rated | 3,142 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.