Truro and Penwith College, Truro
Truro and Penwith College is a post-16 school for pupils aged 16 to 99 in Truro. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Truro and Penwith College in detail
Where pupils go next
Of the 2540 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 28% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 15% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Truro Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Truro College Main Entrance (sw-bound), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 59 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.
Sources: DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Contribution to meeting skills needs: Strong
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The college excels at providing ambitious teaching that prepares students exceptionally well for university, employment or further training. Young people and apprentices thrive through highly effective, industry-aligned training and strong partnerships with employers. The college has invested in cutting-edge facilities and creates an inclusive culture where students develop confidence, resilience and leadership skills.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious curriculums that equip students with skills, knowledge and resilience for their next steps
- Highly effective teaching strategies including problem-based learning, group discussions and peer teaching
- Strong collaboration with employers and industry experts, particularly for apprenticeships
- Excellent enrichment activities including sports academies and creative arts exhibitions
- Deep understanding of local skills needs and alignment of courses with employer requirements
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers of students with high needs on progression pathway programmes do not set ambitious goals or plan lessons to meet individual needs well enough
- Insufficient use of effective teaching strategies and support for high needs students to make progress towards specific goals
- Teachers failing to build on prior knowledge for some high needs students, limiting their academic and personal development
- Recent new systems for planning and monitoring high needs provision too early to measure impact
Safeguarding
Effective - students and apprentices feel valued and safe, with staff promoting a respectful and inclusive culture across all provision.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports academies, creative arts exhibitions, visiting industry experts, enrichment activities
Truro and Penwith College is a large further education provider in Cornwall with three main campuses offering A levels, T levels, vocational courses, and specialist provision. The college was rated Good overall, with Outstanding ratings for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, education programmes for young people, and apprenticeships.
About
Truro and Penwith College is a further education college in Cornwall, England.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
B-
Average grade
36.4
Points per entry
B-
Best 3 A-Levels
13%
Achieving AAB+
Average
Value added
798
A-Level students
87%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
+ 21 more subjects
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 2,540 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
15%
Top-third university
49%
Degree course
54%
Any L4+ destination
1%
Apprenticeships
Based on 1,782 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Keep up with Truro and Penwith College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 7 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
4 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
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Truro
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Truro
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,387
Applications
5,542
Got 1st preference
97.4%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All secondary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Questions parents ask about Truro and Penwith College
What is Truro and Penwith College's Ofsted rating?
Truro and Penwith College was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024.
What is the catchment area for Truro and Penwith College?
No fixed boundary. When Truro and Penwith College is oversubscribed, Cornwall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Truro and Penwith College?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming Truro and Penwith College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Truro and Penwith College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 7 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 4 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 Truro and Penwith College?
Truro and Penwith College is at College Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3XX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)