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Sir James Smith's School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Dark Lane, Camelford PL32 9UJ · sirjamessmiths.cornwall.sch.uk · 01840 213274
On the mapSearch near PL32 9UJ
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Oct 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Cornwall 45.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 588
- 84% of 696 places
- Local authority
- Cornwall
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 26.5%
- First language not English
- 1.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 91 families put the school first and 94 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 94 | 91 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 114 | 113 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 127 | 129 | 1▲ | 98% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 120 | 120 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 143 | 143 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.7, and 43% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Cornwall it was 45.2, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼43.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼58.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼19.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.67 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 112039)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 0.9 | — |
| Sixth form college | 44.9 | −13.7 |
| Further education | 31.8 | +9.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.6 | +3 |
| Employment | 5.6 | −3.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.4 | +4.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.8 | +0.2 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 12 October 2022, Ofsted’s outcome for Sir James Smith's School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 11 Oct 2022
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Apr 2016
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 112039), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Apr 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 112039)
Sept 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 112039)
What parents said
65% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (120 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 65%
- Replies
- 120
- 21% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 48% who had a child bullied
based on 28 parents (23%) with SEND