Shortlanesend School, Truro
Shortlanesend School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Truro, part of Aspire Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 13th-highest of the 24 schools in Truro with published results, and 8,749th of 14,452 across England. It was 66% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cornwall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Shortlanesend School in detail
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Shortlanesend School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 59% in reading and 50% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Shortlanesend School
For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Shortlanesend School as their first choice and 28 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 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 Shortlanesend School are St Mary's CofE School, Truro (1.6 miles, Outstanding, 47% reading, 43% maths); Truro Learning Academy (1.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 75% maths); Archbishop Benson CofE Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 69% maths); and Bosvigo School (2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 70% maths).
Shortlanesend School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St Mary's CofE School, TruroTruro Learning AcademyArchbishop Benson CofE Primary SchoolBosvigo School
The trust
Shortlanesend School is one of 38 schools run by Aspire Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shortlanesend School (as of September 2025): 55% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).
Who goes there
2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Truro Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (se-bound), 60 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Shortlanesend School issued 36 suspensions, 23.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from January 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Shortlanesend School has made impressive improvements in teaching, particularly in reading and mathematics where pupils are achieving well. The school creates a warm, supportive environment where children behave respectfully and have genuine leadership opportunities through pupil councils. Staff provide strong support for children's wellbeing and mental health, helping every child feel valued and included.
Key Strengths
- Strong teaching of reading with effective phonics support helping all pupils become fluent readers
- Well-designed curriculum focusing on key knowledge and skills, with Cornwall at the heart
- High-quality staff training and subject knowledge leading to improved pupil achievement
- Effective support for pupils with SEND through adapted teaching and visual resources
- Strong personal development through pupil parliament, eco-council and leadership opportunities
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers sometimes don't use assessment information quickly enough to move learning on, slowing progress
- Early years curriculum not consistently implemented and expectations are lower than in other year groups
- Some children not prepared sufficiently well for transition to Key Stage 1
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils feeling safe and confident to talk to trusted adults about concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Archery, chess, visits and residentials including week-long trip to Isles of Scilly, pupil parliament, eco-council, before- and after-school clubs
Shortlanesend School is a primary school where pupils enjoy attending and behave well. The school has made good improvements in teaching quality, though the early years provision needs further development.
At a Glance
20.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
47 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 59% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 50% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 55% to 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.8
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
27.7
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Shortlanesend School
Term dates
Shortlanesend 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
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Shortlanesend School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Shortlanesend 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
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Shortlanesend School
Will you get a place at Shortlanesend School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Shortlanesend School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Shortlanesend School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Shortlanesend School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cornwall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Shortlanesend School for 2016 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
66%
Available places
139 pupils
210 places
71 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Truro
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Truro
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(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
22.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
140
Total Pupils
73
Boys
67
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
23.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£37,100
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,196
Per pupil
£971k
Total funding
£38k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
10.9%
Persistent absence
129
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Shortlanesend School
What are SATs results like at Shortlanesend School?
Of the pupils at Shortlanesend School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is Shortlanesend School's Ofsted rating?
Shortlanesend School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Shortlanesend School?
No fixed boundary. When Shortlanesend 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 Shortlanesend School?
Shortlanesend School was not full in 2025: it ran at 66% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Shortlanesend School?
Classes at Shortlanesend School average 22.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Shortlanesend School?
Shortlanesend School has around 140 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Shortlanesend School?
5% of sessions were missed at Shortlanesend School in 2024/25. 10.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Shortlanesend School?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming Shortlanesend 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 Shortlanesend School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Shortlanesend School?
Shortlanesend School is at Northey Close, Shortlanesend, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)