Brannel School, St Austell

In its own words: "We understand that positive relationships between young people and adults reinforce a culture of excellent behaviour and a commitment to learning. We structure our school so that every learner knows, and is known by, a key group of adults which include their year group director and form tutor."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Brannel School is an inclusive school community in which everyone is valued and where difference is celebrated. All young people have an unequivocal right to our curriculum as well as our personal development programme, taught by experts in their chosen field."

On phones, the school says: "Home Families Mobile phones Mobile phones A phone-free school At Brannel School, we are committed to providing a calm, focused and supportive environment where every learner can make the most of their time at school."

In 2026, pupils at Brannel School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.7 in Cornwall and 47 across England.

30% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Cornwall and 47% in England.

That is down from 41.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.02: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 34.5, against 39.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 4.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 135 families put Brannel School as their first choice and 199 named it as one of their preferences, for 136 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Brannel School are Poltair School (4.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.7); and The Roseland Academy (4.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 47.5).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Brannel School.

Brannel School is one of 16 schools run by Cornwall Education Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.7 in 2024/25.

Of the 160 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 62% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

1.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Brannel School.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brannel School (nw-bound), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14).

In 2024/25, Brannel School issued 670 suspensions, 72 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Brannel School are St Stephen Churchtown Academy (0.6 miles) and Foxhole Learning Academy (1.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.