Pool Academy, Redruth

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Pool Academy on 6 areas: 3 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' achievement is improving securely over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate and well-informed understanding of the quality of teaching and the curriculum."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school provides a thoughtfully constructed programme for pupils' personal development, which is woven through the curriculum and a range of wider opportunities."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "A minority of pupils do not meet leaders' expectations for behaviour and these pupils can be disruptive, particularly when they are out of lessons."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils' needs accurately."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders have identified the right priorities for improving pupils' behaviour."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all staff apply the school's behaviour policy consistently and as intended, so that pupils develop a secure and shared understanding of what constitutes appropriate behaviour"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils who face barriers to learning are supported to improve their behaviour successfully over time and, when learning is missed, are able to catch up quickly with their peers"; "Leaders should ensure that the recently introduced anti-bullying strategy is implemented consistently and effectively so that pupils' concerns about bullying are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently check pupils' understanding to identify misconceptions and adapt their teaching as necessary"; "Leaders should ensure that when new policies and practices are reviewed, actions to adapt or improve current practice are swift and have measurable impact and are subject to suitable challenge from governors and trustees"; "Leaders should actively seek the views of parents and ensure that changes to the school are clearly communicated so that all parents have confidence in the work of the school".

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am incredibly proud to welcome you to Pool Academy. The last few years have seen Pool Academy undergo a significant transformation, ensuring we offer your child the exceptional quality of education that they deserve. At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Aspiration, Belonging and Respect."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, dance and STEM.

In 2026, pupils at Pool Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.7 in Cornwall and 47 across England.

49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Cornwall and 47% in England.

That is up from 41.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.59: pupils made well below 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 33.1, against 52 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 18.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 16 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 99 families put Pool Academy as their first choice and 265 named it as one of their preferences, for 124 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 Pool Academy are Redruth School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.1); and Camborne Science and International Academy (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 53.6).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Pool Academy.

Pool Academy is one of 9 schools run by Athena Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4 in 2024/25.

212 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Pool Academy (as of April 2026): 47% would recommend the school, 44% say their child is happy there and 20% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (49%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (20%).

Of the 103 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 73% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 68% to a further education college, 9% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

9.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Black (6%).

The nearest railway station is Camborne Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Moorfield Rd Pool School (opposite), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 101 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Pool Academy issued 747 suspensions, 109.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 10 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Pool Academy are Treloweth Community Primary School (0.6 miles), Rosemellin Community Primary School (1 mile), Roskear Primary & Nursery School (1.1 miles) and Illogan School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.