Richard Lander School, Truro

In its own words: "Richard Lander School is founded on the principles of respect, hard work and ambition. Our aim is to enable every student to achieve to the best of their ability and to grow in confidence, self-esteem and maturity."

The school runs after-school care.

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 26 January 2027 and an open evening on Tuesday 30 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Richard Lander School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.7 in Cornwall and 47 across England.

62% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Cornwall and 47% in England.

That is up from 51 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.07: 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 38.4, against 56.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 18.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 30 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 326 families put Richard Lander School as their first choice and 544 named it as one of their preferences, for 308 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 20 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

57 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Richard Lander School (as of September 2026): 98% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (93%).

Of the 288 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 85% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

3.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Richard Lander School has a SEN unit for autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability and moderate learning difficulties: 20 places, 18 pupils on roll.

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

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Richard Lander School (se-bound), 30 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 52 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Richard Lander School issued 442 suspensions, 29 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Richard Lander School are Threemilestone School (0.4 miles) and Truro Learning Academy (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.