Church Walk CofE Primary School

About Church Walk CofE Primary School

Church Walk CofE Primary School, a Church of England state primary in Westmorland and Furness, sits below the local authority average for its key stage 2 headline measure. The school’s proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined stands at 44%, compared with the LA average of 58% for primary schools. That gap of 14 percentage points places Church Walk in the bottom half of schools in the authority, ranked 78th out of 121. Its national percentile of 87.4 means it falls towards the lower end of all primaries in England on this metric. However, the picture is more mixed when you look at individual subjects. In reading, 75% of pupils met the expected standard and 31% reached the higher standard, both well above the maths equivalent of 44% and 6% respectively. The average reading score of 105 is also notably stronger than the maths average of 98. So while the combined headline figure lags behind the LA norm, reading outcomes are a clear relative strength.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2017 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, and Good for early years provision. An ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. Progress scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, but the raw attainment figures show a school where reading is the standout subject. In writing, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard and 13% achieved the higher standard. The school has no sixth form and no nursery provision, and with just 86 pupils against a capacity of 105, it is a small, intimate setting. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 8.1%, below the national average, and the school reports provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs.

Church Walk was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 29 applications for 13 places and 12 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.23. That suggests a school that is popular locally despite its middling ranking. Facilities include a sports hall, playing fields, gymnasium, library, outdoor playground, dining hall and chapel, and the school offers clubs in drama, chess and book club, plus sports such as rounders, netball, cross country, tennis and athletics. For families who prioritise a small, Church of England primary with strong reading outcomes and a range of extracurricular activities, Church Walk is a solid option. Those seeking the highest academic performance in the LA might look to nearby Yarlside Academy or St Mary’s Catholic Primary, but Church Walk’s Good Ofsted rating and oversubscribed places indicate a school that serves its community well.

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