Six centuries of history meet modern ambition on the edge of Dartmoor. Launceston College traces its origins to a grammar school established in 1409, making it one of the oldest educational institutions in the South West. Today, the college serves approximately 1,400 students aged 11 to 18 from across the Cornwall-Devon border, achieving A-level results that place it in the top 25% of schools in England. The combination of academic rigour, outdoor adventure, and elite sports academies creates a distinctive offer rarely found in rural comprehensive education. Under new leadership from September 2024, the college is positioning itself as one of Cornwall's leading secondary schools.
The college sits on Hurdon Road, approximately one kilometre from Launceston's historic town centre, with the Norman castle visible on the skyline. The castle features in the school's logo, a daily reminder of the town's heritage and the college's deep roots in the local community. The campus has evolved substantially since its Victorian origins, most recently with a new general teaching and science block designed by Poynton Bradbury Architects and completed in 2023.
Matthew Thompson took the helm as Principal in September 2024, bringing international experience from teaching posts in China, Tanzania, and across southern England. His predecessor had led the school through its academy conversion in 2013 and the challenges of recent years. Thompson's stated vision centres on creating an environment of success, joy, positivity, and ambition, with high expectations across academics, athletics, and community involvement.
The college operates as part of the Athena Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust that also includes Pool Academy, Bideford College, Atlantic Academy, and The Ilfracombe Academy, alongside several primary schools including Launceston Primary and Altarnun Primary. This network provides collaborative opportunities and shared resources across the trust.
The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
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Notable alumni include Sir Roger Moore, the actor best known for playing James Bond, and Charles Causley, the celebrated Cornish poet born in Launceston. This heritage of creativity and accomplishment continues to inspire current students.
The school's approach to inclusion is genuine and substantive. The Castle Unit serves as an Area Resource Base for students with significant learning difficulties, providing specialist support within the mainstream setting. All incoming Year 7 students are assessed for reading and spelling ages, with targeted intervention available for those requiring additional support.
At GCSE, Launceston College achieves solid results that reflect its comprehensive intake. The Attainment 8 score of 46 points sits in line with the England average, while the Progress 8 score of +0.22 indicates students make above-average progress from their starting points. This positive value-added figure suggests effective teaching that helps students exceed expectations based on their prior attainment.
The school ranks 1,660th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Locally, however, the picture is stronger. Launceston College ranks 1st in the Launceston area for GCSE performance, making it the leading option for families in this part of Cornwall.
The EBacc average point score of 4.31 exceeds the England average of 4.08, indicating strength in the traditional academic subjects that comprise the English Baccalaureate. Approximately 21% of pupils achieve grade 5 or above across all EBacc subjects.
The sixth form, rebranded as Launceston Sixth, delivers results that substantially outperform the college's GCSE outcomes. At A-level, 71% of grades achieved were A*-B, significantly exceeding the England average of 47%. Breaking this down further, 35% of grades were A*/A, compared to an England average of 24%. These figures place Launceston Sixth in the top 25% of sixth forms in England, ranking 478th out of 2,649 ranked providers.
Locally, the sixth form ranks 1st in the Launceston area for A-level outcomes. The combined GCSE and A-level England rank of 499 reflects particularly strong post-16 provision.
Media reports from Cornwall have highlighted the college's exceptional progress scores. The institution was ranked 18th in England for A-level progress, measuring how much students improve from their GCSE starting points to their final A-level grades. This value-added metric provides perhaps the clearest indication of effective teaching and student support.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
71%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum follows the national framework with some distinctive elements. Seventeen A-level subjects are offered: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, History, Geography, Psychology, Computer Science, French, Spanish, Fine Art, Photography, and Physical Education. Students typically study three A-levels over two years, though some take four in Year 12 before narrowing their focus.
The Extended Project Qualification is available to all sixth form students, with many choosing to pursue this independent research project alongside their A-levels. This develops the research, writing, and presentation skills valued by universities and employers alike.
Teaching follows clear structures, with pupils building on prior knowledge to produce work of a high standard. The 2023 Ofsted inspection noted that most pupils behave well and demonstrate positive attitudes to learning. Staff report that they can focus on teaching without significant distraction. Reading has been prioritised by the leadership team, with students reading regularly throughout the school day. This focus on literacy underpins success across all subjects.
Leaders have worked to reduce staff workload while maintaining educational quality. This investment in teacher wellbeing contributes to stability and enables staff to focus on what matters most: teaching and supporting students.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
In 2024, 29% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with one student securing a place at the University of Oxford to study Music, Mathematics, and Computer Science. This Oxbridge success, while modest in absolute numbers, demonstrates that pathways to elite universities exist for students with the ability and aspiration.
The college publishes destination data showing progression to institutions including Aberystwyth University, Swansea University, and the University of Gloucestershire. Seven students applied to Oxbridge in the measurement period, with one offer and one acceptance from Cambridge.
What distinguishes Launceston College is the breadth of destinations beyond university. A substantial 16% of leavers entered apprenticeships, while 40% moved directly into employment. The apprenticeship pathway is particularly strong, with degree apprenticeships at employers like Babcock International offering routes into professional careers. This reflects both the rural economy of Cornwall and Devon and the college's commitment to preparing students for diverse career paths. Only 3% progressed to further education colleges, suggesting most students complete their post-16 qualifications at Launceston Sixth rather than transferring elsewhere.
Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Comparison Tool to view these destinations alongside other schools in the region.
Total Offers
1
Offer Success Rate: 14.3%
Cambridge
1
Offers
Oxford
0
Offers
Launceston Sixth positions itself around the slogan Exceptional Teaching, Exceptional Experience. Students are treated as adults and individuals within a supportive learning environment. Private study facilities are available for independent work, complemented by experienced tutors who guide academic progress.
Entry requirements and the application process are handled directly by the college. Students from other schools are welcome to apply for Year 12 entry, and the college actively promotes its sixth form to families across Cornwall and Devon. The introduction of free transport for students from Bude, Holsworthy, and surrounding areas has significantly expanded the realistic catchment for post-16 study.
Enrichment activities extend beyond the academic curriculum. Students can participate in the Welsh Three Peaks challenge, mock trial competitions, and various skill-building opportunities. Work experience placements complement academic study. The sixth form environment balances the maturity expected of young adults with the structure needed for examination success.
Bursary support is available for students facing financial barriers to continuing education, ensuring that economic circumstances do not prevent talented students from pursuing their ambitions.
Launceston College straddles the Cornwall-Devon border, drawing students from both counties. Applications are made through the relevant local authority rather than directly to the school. Cornwall residents apply via Cornwall Council, while Devon residents apply through Devon County Council. The deadline follows the national secondary admissions timetable.
The college was oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2024, receiving 289 applications for 226 places. This subscription ratio of 1.28 applications per place indicates healthy demand, though competition is less intense than at many urban schools. All first-preference applicants who met the criteria received offers.
There is no single catchment boundary. Instead, Cornwall Council operates a designated area system that determines transport eligibility rather than admission priority. The college welcomes applications from across both counties and actively promotes its accessibility.
The transition programme invests heavily in the move from primary to secondary. Super Saturdays allow prospective pupils to experience the school environment. Transition days help students meet tutor groups and peers before September. A Summer School in August provides additional familiarisation for those who would benefit from extra preparation.
The college offers personalised tours for prospective families throughout the year. The admissions team notes that every day is an open day. Contact can be made via transition@launcestoncollege.uk or by telephone on 01566 772468.
For sixth form entry, applications are made directly to the college. An induction day in July allows prospective sixth formers to experience the provision before making final decisions. Enrolment takes place in late August following GCSE results.
Applications
289
Total received
Places Offered
226
Subscription Rate
1.3x
Apps per place
The pastoral system operates through tutor groups that meet daily during the morning session from 9:00am to 9:25am. This regular contact with a consistent adult provides continuity and enables tutors to monitor student wellbeing and academic progress.
The Castle Unit serves as the college's Area Resource Base for students with additional needs, providing specialist support within the mainstream setting. All pupils are assessed on arrival through screening for reading and spelling, ensuring early identification of those who may need intervention. Targeted support sessions operate alongside mainstream timetables.
The 2023 Ofsted inspection rated the school Good for behaviour and attitudes and Good for personal development. Inspectors found that leaders have brought significant improvement and reduced staff workload, creating conditions where teachers can focus on students rather than administrative burdens.
However, the inspection also noted that some parents feel communication could be stronger. Some parents reported feeling that leaders were not always responsive when contacted about concerns. This represents an area the school has acknowledged, and the new Principal has emphasised community engagement as a priority.
The APEX Elite Academies programme offers specialised sports pathways in six disciplines: girls' rugby, boys' rugby, girls' football, boys' football, mixed cricket, and an individualised athlete programme for sports including athletics, tennis, and swimming. Students benefit from strength and conditioning sessions before school, delivered by coaches from Plymouth Argyle FC's Community Trust and Matt Luxton Health and Fitness.
Afternoon training is led by academy coaches, with core PE lessons also delivered by specialists in each sport. Partnerships with Launceston Rugby Club, Southgate FC, and Launceston FC provide competitive fixtures and progression routes into senior sport.
The programme includes cup competitions, additional leagues, trips to professional matches, and residential training camps. Connections to the Cornish Pirates rugby club bring elite coaching expertise to students with representative potential.
Outdoor education forms a central pillar of the college experience. Year 7 students begin with a residential trip that establishes the foundation for subsequent adventure learning. The programme builds through day experiences before progressing to the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Ten Tors Challenge in Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form.
Ten Tors is the annual Dartmoor expedition requiring teams to navigate 35, 45, or 55 miles across open moorland. This demanding challenge develops leadership, teamwork, resilience, and navigation skills. The college's proximity to Dartmoor makes this a natural fit, and the event has become a highlight of the school calendar.
Adventure Learning Week provides concentrated outdoor experiences, while the Duke of Edinburgh Award offers a structured framework for personal development through volunteering, physical activity, skills development, and expedition.
Beyond sport, Performance Academies offer pathways in music and drama. School productions, musical performances, and drama showcases provide platforms for creative expression throughout the year. These complement the academic offering in Fine Art and Photography at A-level.
Clubs span sport, creativity, and academic enrichment. Football, basketball, netball, and rugby fixtures provide regular competition, including participation in the annual Cornwall Schools' Games.
The college campus includes a 3G astro turf pitch with floodlights, one of few such facilities in North Cornwall. The nearest alternatives are over ten miles away in Callington, Tavistock, and Bodmin, making this facility significant for both the school and wider community. Community lettings operate seven days per week.
Additional facilities include grass football and rugby pitches, a sports hall, gym, netball courts, and the Pavilion with changing facilities. These serve both the curriculum and the extensive extracurricular programme.
The school day runs from 8:45am to 4:15pm, operating on a two-week timetable cycle. The day begins with a greeting session from 8:45am, followed by tutor time from 9:00am to 9:25am. Six teaching periods follow, with two break times. Total compulsory contact time amounts to 32.5 hours weekly.
Transport is coordinated with both Cornwall and Devon local authorities. Free transport is available for students from Bude, Holsworthy, and surrounding areas, significantly expanding accessibility for families in more distant communities.
The campus includes ample parking for visitors. Students staying for after-school activities need to arrange their own transport home.
Rural location. Launceston sits in a relatively isolated position on the Cornwall-Devon border. Students from more distant communities face significant travel times. The free transport provision helps, but families should consider the practical implications of the journey and after-school activities.
GCSE performance is solid, not exceptional. While the sixth form achieves results in the top 25% in England, GCSE performance sits closer to the England average. Families seeking the highest academic intensity from Year 7 may find the comprehensive intake creates a different environment from selective schools.
Parent communication concerns. The 2023 Ofsted inspection noted that some parents felt leaders were not always responsive to concerns. The new Principal has acknowledged the importance of community engagement, and improvement in this area will be important to monitor.
Elite sports require existing commitment. The APEX Elite Academies require club-level participation as a prerequisite. Students without existing sporting involvement will not access these pathways, though broader extracurricular sport remains available.
Launceston College offers something increasingly rare: a genuinely comprehensive school with outstanding sixth form outcomes, set in a location where outdoor adventure is woven into the educational fabric. The A-level results, ranking in the top 25% in England with the 18th best progress scores nationally, demonstrate what committed teaching can achieve with students of all abilities.
The GCSE picture is respectable without being remarkable, but the sixth form transforms outcomes for students who stay the course. Apprenticeship pathways provide genuine alternatives to university, reflecting local employment realities and the college's pragmatic approach to preparation for adult life.
Best suited to families in the Cornwall-Devon border region who want a well-rounded education combining academic progress with sport, outdoor challenge, and creative arts. The college works for students across the ability range, with particularly strong value-added at sixth form level. The main consideration is not securing admission but whether the college's character and location suit individual circumstances. For families close enough to benefit, Launceston College offers outcomes that rival far more selective institutions.
Parents interested in this option can use the FindMySchool Saved Schools feature to manage their shortlist while exploring options across Cornwall and Devon.
Yes. Launceston College was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023 across all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision. The sixth form achieves results in the top 25% of providers in England, with 71% of A-level grades at A*-B. The Progress 8 score of +0.22 at GCSE indicates students make above-average progress from their starting points.
The sixth form achieves strong results, with 71% of grades at A*-B compared to the England average of 47%. Some 35% of grades are A*/A, substantially above the England average of 24%. The college ranks 478th in England for A-level outcomes, placing it in the top 18% of sixth form providers. The Department for Education ranked the school 18th in England for A-level progress.
For Year 7 entry, applications are made through your local authority. Cornwall residents apply via Cornwall Council admissions, while Devon residents apply through Devon County Council. The deadline follows the national secondary timetable. For sixth form entry, applications are made directly to the college. Contact the admissions team at transition@launcestoncollege.uk or on 01566 772468 to arrange a visit.
The college serves a wide area spanning both Cornwall and Devon. There is no single catchment boundary. Cornwall Council operates a designated area system primarily for transport eligibility rather than admission priority. The college welcomes applications from across both counties and has introduced free transport for students from Bude, Holsworthy, and surrounding areas.
The college offers APEX Elite Academies in rugby, football, and cricket with professional coaching from Plymouth Argyle and local clubs. Adventure learning includes the Duke of Edinburgh Award at all levels and the Ten Tors Challenge on Dartmoor. Performance Academies cover music and drama. Sports facilities include a floodlit 3G pitch, sports hall, gym, and extensive playing fields.
Yes, though in small numbers reflecting the comprehensive intake. In the most recent data period, seven students applied to Oxbridge, with one student securing a place at Cambridge. Recent destinations have also included the University of Oxford for Music, Mathematics and Computer Science. The college supports students through the application process for competitive universities.
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