Pensilva Primary School, Liskeard

Ofsted's report card from its 24 February 2026 inspection grades Pensilva Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils typically attend at rates well above the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils experience a clear and well‑organised curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a successful start in early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify pupils' needs promptly."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have made the school a friendly and safe place where everyone works together to help pupils learn."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils develop strong character and understand the school's values well."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, not enough pupils have reached the expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to raise achievement for all pupils and strengthen pupils' number knowledge so that they can tackle unfamiliar mathematical problems"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers consider carefully pupils' prior knowledge when planning activities so that learning builds effectively on what pupils already know and can do"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils benefit from meaningful opportunities to produce extended pieces of writing across the curriculum, including by applying their knowledge of grammar, spelling and punctuation to their writing".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football and athletics.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am.

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Pensilva Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 29% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 55% in reading and 55% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put Pensilva Primary School as their first choice and 21 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Pensilva Primary School are Upton Cross Academy (1.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); Darite Primary Academy (2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths); St Cleer Primary Academy (2.7 miles, Good, 79% reading, 86% maths); and Quethiock CofE School (3.5 miles, Good, 56% reading, 56% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Pensilva Primary School.

29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Pensilva Primary School (as of April 2026): 83% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).

0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 22 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Pensilva Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

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

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School Road (e-bound), 180 metres away.

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

In 2024/25, Pensilva Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.