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catchment.school

Penrice Academy Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Penrice Academy is an academy converter secondary school in St Austell, Cornwall , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1422 pupils, and a capacity of 1440 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

1,422

Pupils

1,440

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Penrice Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Penrice Academy?

The catchment area for Penrice Academy is the geographic zone Cornwall uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Cornwall publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Penrice Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Cornwall. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Penrice Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Cornwall before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Cornwall catchment area documents →

Penrice Academy: 1440 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Penrice Academy has a published admission number of 1440 places. 1422 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1440, Cornwall's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 21% of pupils at Penrice Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Cornwall.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Cornwall publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Cornwall Council school admissions (official) →

Penrice Academy: School Information

Full address
Charlestown Road, St Austell, PL25 3NR
Local authority
Cornwall
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
21% of pupils
DfE URN
136573

Other Secondary Schools in St Austell

If Penrice Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in St Austell are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Penrice Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Penrice Academy

What is the catchment area for Penrice Academy?

The catchment area for Penrice Academy is the geographic zone Cornwall uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Cornwall publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Penrice Academy oversubscribed?

Penrice Academy is operating close to its capacity of 1440 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Penrice Academy?

Admission to Penrice Academy is managed by Cornwall. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Penrice Academy cover?

Penrice Academy is a secondary school in St Austell, Cornwall, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

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