Mullion School

Mullion School, recently inspected for the first time as an academy, demonstrates a strong improvement trajectory under new leadership and as part of the Truro and Penwith Academy Trust. The school's leadership has implemented effective strategies to address previous declines in standards, resulting in a positive learning environment where pupils feel valued and safe. Despite low-level disruptions being noted, the overall behavior of students is commendable, and academic achievements, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, are noteworthy. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, and there is an emphasis on fostering pupils' interests through varied extracurricular activities.

Strengths

• Strong improvement trajectory under new leadership
• Positive and supportive school environment
• Ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum
• Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
• High expectations leading to pride in work among students
• Improved reading programs and cultural capital enhancement
• Variety of extracurricular activities available for students

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in the application of behavior management strategies
• Variation in curriculum implementation across subjects
• Careers program lacks sufficient links to local employers

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Mullion School attended 90.9% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 26.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 11.0% of pupils at Mullion School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 3 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Mullion School had 17.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 19.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 21.0% of pupils at Mullion School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 5.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Mullion School received £8,361 and spent £8,282 for each of its 557 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £41,000 (-£74 per pupil).

Across all 41 schools of Truro & Penwith Academy Trust, income was £7,781 and spending £7,890 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Helston · Cornwall local authority: places and applications

Mullion School is part of Truro & Penwith Academy Trust, which runs 41 schools. The nearest others:

• Mullion Primary School Helston
• Landewednack Community Primary School Helston
• Helston Community College Helston
• St Hilary School Penzance
• Kennall Vale School Truro
• St Erth Community Primary School Hayle
• Hayle Academy Hayle
• Bodriggy Academy Hayle
• Ludgvan School Penzance
• Mousehole School Penzance

What is Mullion School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Mullion School is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Mullion School last inspected by Ofsted?

Mullion School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Mullion School have?

Mullion School has 548 pupils on roll.

What age range does Mullion School cover?

Mullion School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Mullion School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 45.0, and 41% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Mullion School?

Mullion School is at Meaver Road, Mullion, Helston, Cornwall, TR12 7EB.