Padstow School, Padstow
Padstow School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Padstow, part of Aspire Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 33rd-highest of the 209 schools in Cornwall with published results, and 2,629th of 14,452 across England. It was 64% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cornwall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Padstow School in detail
Padstow School in its own words
In its own words: "Aspirations - achieve the best for ourselves and others, to imagine possibilities and make them real. Spirit - demonstrating the courage of our convictions, with energy and determination. Passion - enthusiastic and committed to seek opportunity, pursue talents and interests."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We provide expert school-based childcare in a caring and stimulating environment. Specifically designed for children aged 2 to 4 years, our nursery helps bridge the gap between pre-school and Reception Class, providing the very best of starts to your child’s learning journey."
The school runs after-school care, from £3.75 per session.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Padstow School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 72% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Padstow School
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Padstow School as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Padstow School are St Issey Church of England Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 86% reading, 86% maths); St Merryn School (2.4 miles, Good, 84% reading, 79% maths); St Minver School (2.5 miles, Good, 62% reading, 85% maths); and Trevisker Primary School (4.3 miles, Good, 80% reading, 63% maths).
Padstow School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St Issey Church of England Primary SchoolSt Merryn SchoolSt Minver SchoolTrevisker Primary School
The trust
Padstow School is one of 38 schools run by Aspire Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
36.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Padstow School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tesco (opposite), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Padstow School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
36.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 72% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.8
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
26.0
KS2
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Padstow School
Term dates
Padstow School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Cornwall's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Padstow School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Padstow School is in Cornwall; for families living there:
- Cornwall's school travel policy: Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2026/27
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Padstow School
Will you get a place at Padstow School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Padstow School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Padstow School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Padstow School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cornwall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Padstow School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Cornwall got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
64%
Available places
134 pupils
210 places
76 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Padstow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Padstow
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,475
Applications
4,732
Got 1st preference
95.9%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
24
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
19.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
157
Total Pupils
86
Boys
71
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
22.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,609
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,857
Per pupil
£881k
Total funding
£70k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
13.0%
Persistent absence
123
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Padstow School
What are SATs results like at Padstow School?
Of the pupils at Padstow School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is Padstow School's Ofsted rating?
Padstow School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Padstow School?
No fixed boundary. When Padstow School is oversubscribed, Cornwall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Padstow School?
Padstow School was not full in 2025: it ran at 64% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Padstow School?
Classes at Padstow School average 25.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Padstow School?
Padstow School has around 157 pupils on roll. 37% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Padstow School?
6.1% of sessions were missed at Padstow School in 2024/25. 13% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Padstow School?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming Padstow School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Padstow School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Padstow School?
Padstow School is at Grenville Road, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8EX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)