Cusgarne Primary School

Cusgarne Primary School is a small village primary in Cornwall and part of Aspire Academy Trust. This full inspection in July 2026 found the school performing at the expected standard across its work, with safeguarding standards met. Pupils achieve well: key stage 2 outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics are typically above national averages, the curriculum is broad and well sequenced, and early years provision is ambitious. Behaviour is calm, attendance is closely monitored, and pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils are generally well supported and included. Leaders have managed significant leadership change and have a clear vision; staff feel supported and governance and trust oversight are effective. The main areas for development are ensuring curriculum quality is consistently high across every subject and year group, and making SEND strategies and targets more precise and regularly reviewed so support has a timely impact. Occasional classroom adaptations are not always precise enough, and Year 4 multiplication tables check attainment has been below the national average over time. Overall, this is a caring, inclusive school where pupils are well prepared for the next stage of education.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well, with key stage 2 reading, writing and mathematics outcomes typically above national averages.
• The curriculum is broad and balanced and builds knowledge and skills in a well-sequenced way.
• Early years provision is ambitious and well designed, with strong phonics and communication and language support.
• Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils generally make secure progress from their starting points.
• Behaviour is calm and orderly, underpinned by clear 'ready, respectful, safe' expectations.
• Attendance is closely monitored and supported, with attendance broadly in line with national averages.
• Personal development is strong, including mental health support, citizenship education and wider enrichment opportunities.
• Leaders have a clear vision, manage change well and support staff workload and wellbeing.
• Governance and trust oversight are effective and well informed.
• Safeguarding arrangements meet expected standards.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum quality is not yet consistently high across all subjects and year groups.
• SEND strategies and targets are not always precise or reviewed regularly enough to make a timely impact.
• Occasional classroom adaptations for pupils with SEND are not precise enough to help them meet targets swiftly.
• Year 4 multiplication tables check attainment has been below the national average over time.

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 Cusgarne Primary School attended 94.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 0.0% of pupils at Cusgarne Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No 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 Cusgarne Primary School had 10.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 15.0% of pupils at Cusgarne Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 15.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Cusgarne Primary School received £8,508 and spent £7,948 for each of its 69 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £20,000 (£290 per pupil).

Across all 38 schools of Aspire Academy Trust, income was £7,450 and spending £7,448 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 Truro · Cornwall local authority: places and applications

Cusgarne Primary School is part of Aspire Academy Trust, which runs 38 schools. The nearest others:

• Penryn Primary Academy Penryn
• Truro Learning Academy Truro
• Mount Hawke Academy Truro
• Archbishop Benson CofE Primary School Truro
• Shortlanesend School Truro
• Tregolls Academy Truro
• St Mawes Primary School Truro
• Crowan Primary School Camborne
• Probus Primary School Truro
• Manaccan Primary School Helston

What is Cusgarne Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cusgarne Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Cusgarne Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cusgarne Primary School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Cusgarne Primary School have?

Cusgarne Primary School has 40 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cusgarne Primary School cover?

Cusgarne Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Cusgarne Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Cusgarne Primary School?

Cusgarne Primary School is at Cusgarne, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 8RW.