Crosscanonby St John's CofE School

About Crosscanonby St John's CofE School

Crosscanonby St John's CofE School is a small Church of England primary in Cumberland, currently teaching 57 pupils against a capacity of 80, so there is room for growth. Its intake reflects a higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 26.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a national primary average of around 23-24%. That said, the school is clearly popular locally. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it had just one available place and received four applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4:1. All four applicants put the school as their first preference, and one first-preference offer was made. This suggests that families in the area actively seek out this school, despite its small size and rural location in the Cumberland authority. The school also offers nursery provision for children from age three, which may help families settle into the community early.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024, with every inspected category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — all judged Good. This is a consistent picture: the previous inspection in 2012 also rated overall effectiveness as Good. While the data does not include specific Key Stage 2 SATs results for Crosscanonby, the local authority average for KS2 attainment sits at 54, which gives a useful benchmark for parents comparing schools in Cumberland. Among its local peers, the school is not ranked in the top three by ranking score, but its Good rating places it in solid company. The school has no sixth form, as expected for a primary, and does not offer boarding.

Facilities include a library, outdoor playground, art studios, music rooms, dining hall, playing fields and a chapel, which is a decent range for a school of this size. Sports on offer include athletics, tennis, cross country, swimming, gymnastics and football, and there are clubs such as science, choir, coding, book club, film club and drama. The school has identified SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, and other difficulties or disabilities. This is a school that could suit families looking for a small, church-affiliated primary with a strong community feel, where the headteacher Kelly Bowe leads a team that has consistently delivered Good outcomes. Its oversubscription suggests it is worth registering interest early.

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