Upton Cross Academy, Liskeard
Upton Cross Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Liskeard, part of Kernow Learning Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 12 schools in Liskeard with published results, and 2,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
Upton Cross Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Upton Cross Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 88% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Upton Cross Academy
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Upton Cross Academy as their first choice and 22 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 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 Upton Cross Academy are Pensilva Primary School (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, 71% reading, 29% maths); Darite Primary Academy (2.2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths); St Cleer Primary Academy (3 miles, Good, 79% reading, 86% maths); and Coads Green Primary School (3.1 miles, Good, 75% reading, 50% maths).
Upton Cross Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Pensilva Primary SchoolDarite Primary AcademySt Cleer Primary AcademyCoads Green Primary School
The trust
Upton Cross Academy is one of 21 schools run by Kernow Learning Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Upton Cross Academy (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (91%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 19 pupils (16.8%) received SEN support and 3 (2.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Upton Cross Academy had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Upton Cross Academy.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (e-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Upton Cross Academy issued 2 suspensions, 2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no 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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; 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 May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Upton Cross Academy excels at helping children develop confident speaking skills and a genuine love of reading through a well-thought-out curriculum. Teachers build strong relationships with pupils and provide excellent support for those who need extra help, particularly children with SEND. The school also goes beyond academics by offering enriching experiences and clubs that help pupils develop their talents and interests.
Key Strengths
- Well-designed, ambitious curriculum with clear focus on reading, vocabulary and speaking skills
- Effective teaching strategies including regular recap of prior knowledge and checks on pupil understanding
- Strong attendance rates, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Early identification and support for pupils with gaps in communication, language and reading
- Warm, supportive relationships between staff and pupils creating a sense of belonging
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils not receiving swift enough support to correct errors in handwriting, spelling and punctuation, leading to repeated mistakes across subjects
- Need to develop staff expertise to ensure clear understanding of writing knowledge pupils must secure at each stage
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening club, art club, outdoor learning activities including bug hunting and habitat creation, zoo visits, local arts centre performances
Upton Cross Academy has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. The school has a strong focus on curriculum design, reading, and creating a calm, supportive learning environment where pupils are highly motivated and engaged.
At a Glance
21.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
22 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 remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 81% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
14.7
Avg class size
13.3
Infant (KS1)
15.8
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Upton Cross Academy
Term dates
Upton Cross Academy 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 Upton Cross Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Upton Cross Academy 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Upton Cross Academy
Will you get a place at Upton Cross Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Upton Cross Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Upton Cross Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Upton Cross Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cornwall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Upton Cross Academy for 2017 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
91%
Near capacity
96 pupils
105 places
9 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Liskeard
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Liskeard
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
19
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
19.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
113
Total Pupils
53
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
16.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,953
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,420
Per pupil
£668k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.0%
Overall absence
3.4%
Persistent absence
88
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Upton Cross Academy
What are SATs results like at Upton Cross Academy?
Of the pupils at Upton Cross Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Upton Cross Academy's Ofsted rating?
Upton Cross Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Upton Cross Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Upton Cross Academy is oversubscribed, Cornwall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Upton Cross Academy?
Upton Cross Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Upton Cross Academy?
Classes at Upton Cross Academy average 14.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Upton Cross Academy?
Upton Cross Academy has around 113 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Upton Cross Academy?
3% of sessions were missed at Upton Cross Academy in 2024/25. 3.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Upton Cross Academy?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming Upton Cross Academy 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 Upton Cross Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Upton Cross Academy?
Upton Cross Academy is at Upton Cross, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 5AX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)