Polwhele House School
Same Cornwall area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
The Cornwall Independent School is a private secondary-stage school in Hayle, Cornwall, with a published age range of 4-16.
Private school Co-ed Ages 4-16 No sixth form listed No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-16
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
The Cornwall Independent School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-16
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
The Cornwall Independent School has built its identity around small classes, individual attention and a continuous journey from Reception to Year 11. Its co-educational day-school setting in Hayle is intentionally family-sized, with a curriculum that aims to keep pupils happy, confident and challenged while adapting to the needs of the child in front of the teacher.
Learning is not confined to the classroom. A school minibus supports outings, residential trips run through Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, and visitors from different organisations contribute to lessons. Whole-school events and assemblies bring pupils from Reception through Year 11 together, while sport and cultural activities connect school life with the local area.
The curriculum follows the main requirements of the National Curriculum but uses practical work, different learning styles and visits to make subjects accessible. Laboratory science and separate-science opportunities sit alongside Combined Science; other named areas include chronological History, Design Technology in food, textiles and construction, French, art, food preparation, religious education and PSHE.
Admissions are handled by the school across the whole age range, including early years. A visit is part of understanding the setting, particularly for families considering a small community where primary and secondary pupils share a continuous path. Individual adaptation and parent partnership are central to that conversation.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 100% grade 5+ in English and maths and 55.5 Attainment 8
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Cornwall and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 55.5
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 100%
- EBacc APS
- 5.53
- EBacc entry
- 100%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Cornwall and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 4-16
- Headteacher
- Miss Louise Adams
- Pupil roll
- 73 pupils
- Sixth form
- No
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- 14 Trelissick Road, Hayle, Cornwall
- Postcode
- TR27 4HY
- Area
- Cornwall
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Miss Louise Adams
School contact
- School phone
- 01736752612
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01736752612
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- Check school fees page
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Check school site
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 55.5 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 100% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 100% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 5.53 EBacc APS
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 26 September 2023
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2023 records an inspection beginning 26 September 2023. The report says the relevant standards were met.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
Nearby schools families also consider
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
St Josephs School
Same Cornwall area with a comparable local commute
Totnes Independent School
Same Cornwall area with a comparable local commute
Chances Educational Support Services
Same Cornwall area with a comparable local commute
Nearby schools with similar results
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Avicenna School
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
Blackwater Academy Sandwell
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
Blackwater Academy Stourbridge
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
Shortlist comparisons
Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Cornwall Independent School handle admissions?
Cornwall Independent School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Cornwall Independent School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Cornwall Independent School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Cornwall Independent School?
Cornwall Independent School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 26 September 2023.