Many children will be starting secondary school around Falmouth, Penzance and Camborne next September, and lots of parents will soon have choices to make about where to send them.

Applications for Year 7 places in west and mid-Cornwall close on Thursday, October 31 so the deadline is approaching soon.

If you've not yet made your decision and are worried you are running out of time, you're in luck as we've rounded up the best-rated schools in the area.

Using Ofsted ratings, we've found the secondary schools rated the best under outstanding and good status.

The results are based on searches for Falmouth, Penzance and Camborne (within a 10 mile radius) on the Ofsted website with each of the ratings correct as of October 14, 2024. 

You can see all the Ofsted ratings for local schools via the Ofsted website. 

Best-rated secondary schools in west and mid-Cornwall according to Ofsted

Camborne Science and International Academy

  • Address: Cranberry Road, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 7PP
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: March 1, 2024

Redruth School

  • Address: Tolgus Vean, Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 1TA
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: January 22, 2019

Helston Community College

  • Address: Church Hill, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 8NR
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: January 16, 2023

Penryn College

  • Address: Kernick Road, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 8PZ
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: September 21, 2022

Richard Lander School

  • Address: Higher Besore Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6LT
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: November 9, 2023
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Humphry Davy School

  • Address: Coombe Road, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 2TG
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: June 26, 2023

Mounts Bay Academy

  • Address: Boscathnoe Lane, Heamoor, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 3JT
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: January 24, 2022

Cape Cornwall School

  • Address: Cape Cornwall Street, St Just, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 7JX
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: March 8, 2023

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St Ives School

  • Address: Higher Tregenna, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2BB
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: January 24, 2023

Penair School

  • Address: St Clement, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN
  • Rating: Good
  • Latest report: May 23, 2023

Full reports on all the schools listed can be found on the Ofsted website.