Poltair School, St Austell

In its own words: "Our commitment to excellence has been recognised, and we are proud to be rated as a Good school, with outstanding features in Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management. We believe that school should be a happy place where students feel safe and secure. Learning should be fun and exciting, so students are engaged in their studies."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Poltair School, located in St. Austell, is a historic institution at the heart of its community. Our focus is on nurturing young people, helping them to thrive and grow. We are committed to ensuring every student leaves with the confidence and character needed to take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential."

In 2026, pupils at Poltair School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.7 in Cornwall and 47 across England.

38% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Cornwall and 47% in England.

That is down from 47.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.26: pupils made above 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 36.6, against 44.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.3 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 218 families put Poltair School as their first choice and 482 named it as one of their preferences, for 183 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 35 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Poltair School are Penrice Academy (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 49.1); and Brannel School (4.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38).

Poltair School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

Poltair 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 152 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

33.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 155 pupils (17.6%) received SEN support and 22 (2.5%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is St Austell Rail Station, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Poltair School Site (ne-bound), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 190 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Poltair School issued 38 suspensions, 4.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Poltair School are Carclaze Community Primary School (0.6 miles), Sandy Hill Academy (0.7 miles), Mount Charles School (0.7 miles) and Pondhu Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.