St Columb Minor Academy
Porth Bean Road, St Columb Minor, Newquay, TR7 3JFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Columb Minor Academy is a primary school in Newquay for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 295 schools in Cornwall. It ranks 3rd of 8 primary schools in Newquay. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 1 October 2024, report published 10 November 2024
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 1 October 2024
Pupils beam with pride at being a part of this tight-knit community. Their enjoyment of school is reflected in their high attendance. The school has raised aspirations for its pupils. They now learn new content well. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs met through skilful adaptations. The school has recently changed its behaviour systems. Staff and pupils understand this new approach. Pupils generally behave well throughout the day. They learn in a warm, calm and orderly environment. A few pupils still struggle to meet the school's higher expectations. Consequently, suspensions have risen during this period. However, staff calmly and compassionately support these pupils effectively. Children in the early years settle well. They quickly learn the rules and routines of the school day. Sport has a high profile both in the curriculum and beyond. Pupils enjoy success in a range of tournaments. They experience a well-planned set of residentials. This promotes pupils' resilience and independence. This is complimented through leadership roles, such as house captains. Parents and carers are effusive in their praise for the recent changes made. They welcome their inclusion in the life of the school. One typical comment, stated, 'I feel the school spirit has returned.'
What the school should improve
- Some subjects are relatively new and are at the early stages of embedding. Furthermore, pupils have gaps in their knowledge due to historical weaknesses in the curriculum. As a result, pupils have not developed a deep long-term knowledge and struggle to make links between areas of learning. The trust should ensure that it continues to embed these subjects and check how well pupils are learning them.
- On some occasions, teachers do not provide work which matches the high ambition of the curriculum intent. When this happens, pupils do not develop their knowledge as well as the curriculum states they should. The trust needs to support teachers to implement the curriculum well and provide work which is ambitious and builds upon what they already know.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
89 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
393 pupils on roll, with places for 630
Schools near St Columb Minor Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newquay Primary Academy | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Nansledan School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 62% met the expected standard |
| Newquay Junior Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| The Bishops CofE Learning Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 61% met the expected standard |
| Trenance Learning Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- KERNOW LEARNING MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Ms Natalie Simmonds
- Phone
- 01637873958
- Address
- Porth Bean Road, St Columb Minor, Newquay, TR7 3JF
- Local authority
- Cornwall
- URN
- 136869
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.