Schools in Cornwall

Education in Cornwall

Despite being at the further reaches of the United Kingdom, Cornwall can boast to being the home of a wide array of quality educational institutions. Beginning with a range of options from the early years through to school, college and, in recent years, university, there is much for the county to be proud of and something to suit the needs of the most demanding of parents and students alike.

Choosing a School

Choosing where to send your children to school can be a daunting prospect, particularly when you are new to a county and uncertain of how to make the best choice for your child.

As is the case throughout the rest of the country, some of Cornwall's schools suffer from oversubscription, so it is advisable to ensure applications are made at the earliest opportunity in order to achieve your first preference.

A number of Cornish organisations (listed below) can help you with support and advice to ensure that you make the most informed decision possible and that your child's transition into the Cornish school system is a smooth one.

Choice Advice

Cornwall's Family Information Service offers free independent "Choice Advice" to help parents and carers understand the transition between primary and secondary school. The service can be contacted on 0800 587 8191.

Transfers

Parents may be considering transferring their child upon relocating to Cornwall. The contact details for the relevant County Council Department are:

Admissions and Transport (Policy) Team,
Services for: Children, Young People and Families
County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY
Telephone: 01872 322003

Early Years Education

From the term following their third birthday, all children can receive up to six terms of part-time early years education. Parents can choose from a range of providers, including schools, playgroups, pre-schools, day nurseries and accredited childminders, all of which can be found listed on the Government's ChildcareLink website - www.childcarelink.gov.uk , which also includes links to the latest Ofsted reports. 

Cornwall County Council's Family Information Service can also provide further information: Tel: 0800  5878191.
 
Primary Schools

Children normally start primary school in the September following their fourth birthday. The application period for admissions into Reception class is normally between September and December of the previous year. Cornwall County Council's Children, Young People and Families Service (01872 322032) provides a brochure to parents explaining the application process.

You can also apply online for a place in reception between October and December for the following September. The web address is: www.cornwall.gov.uk/admissions.
A full list of all Cornish primary schools can be found on the Cornwall County Council website at: www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2067

Secondary Schools

All secondary schools in Cornwall are mixed comprehensives and children normally transfer to secondary school in the September following their eleventh birthday. 

A brochure setting out transfer arrangements to secondary school is sent to parents during their child's last year at primary school. The closing date for parents wishing to express a preference for a place for their child in year 7 at a Cornish secondary school is during the October prior to the following school year.

A full list of all Cornish secondary schools, can be found on the Cornwall County Council website at: www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=7001  

Special Needs

Cornwall County Council's Assessment and Education Provision Team provides detailed information about all aspects of provision for children with special educational needs, including statutory assessments and the Code of Practice.  If your child has special educational needs his/her school will initially assess and provide for them according to the DfES Code of Practice, and you can discuss your child's needs directly with the head teacher.

Wherever possible, the Cornwall CSA aims to provide for children with special educational needs in mainstream schools.  The CSA also runs four special schools and a number of Area Resource Bases attached to mainstream schools to provide for children with more severe difficulties (decided by admission panels).  In exceptional cases, where there is no suitable provision within Cornwall, a child may be placed at a special school outside the county.  Education is also provided for children in hospital and for those who cannot attend school.  General advice and information is available from the Assessment and Education Provision Team on 01872 322032.

Contact Details:

Admissions and Transport (Policy) Team
01872 322032 
email Icannicott@cornwall.gov.uk
www.cornwall.gov.uk/admissions.

Assessment and Education Provision Team
01872 322032.

Children, Young People and Families
01872 322032

County Hall
Truro
TR1 3AY
Tel: 01872 322032
www.cornwall.gov.uk

Family Information Service
Cornwall County Council
Tel: 0800  5878191

Independent Schools in Cornwall

Parents may also be seeking private education for their child within Cornwall.  The county has a number of high quality independent schools boasting excellent results, ranging from pre-prep and prep schools to mixed senior schools in Truro and Penzance educating up to sixth form, and two girls' schools in Truro and Launceston.  The prep schools act as feeder schools for the senior schools within Cornwall, as well as for many of the well known public and private schools across the country. Each of the pre-prep schools provides nursery care, normally from the age of 3 upwards.

Further Education in Cornwall

Truro College

Truro College is one of the newest and most innovative colleges in the country. It was recently recognised as one of the Government's few Beacon Colleges and is one of the first colleges in the UK to gain designed outstanding status. The College offers a range of blended learning options including taught programmes, self-study/distance learning, on the job assessment, on-line learning and one-to-one support, allowing students to learn in the way that best suits them.
For further information:
www.trurocollege.ac.uk

Higher Education

In the past one of Cornwall's most serious challenges has been the annual exodus of young people who left the area because it was not possible for them to study their favoured subjects close to home. Very few of them returned to live and work in Cornwall, dividing families and making it hard for local businesses to recruit skilled, creative young people. There was also a huge demand for part-time or work-based university-level courses from potential mature students in Cornwall who wanted to enhance their career prospects or pursue their subject interests. The Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) has addressed both of these problems.

The Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC)

CUC was created in 2003 to increase the range of university level education available in Cornwall and to make these opportunities accessible to more people. It comprises the partnership of existing academic institutions - the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, University College Falmouth, the Open University, the College of St Mark & St John, Cornwall College, Truro College and Penwith College, as well as the Peninsula Medical School, which is currently developing a Dental School in Cornwall.  CUC are also developing additional research and innovation capabilities.

For more information on courses available:
www.cuc.ac.uk