Grange CofE Primary School

About Grange CofE Primary School

Grange CofE Primary School sits within the Westmorland and Furness local authority, a mixed Church of England state primary for children aged 3 to 11. Among the 99 primary schools ranked in the same authority, it places 52nd, placing it just within the bottom half of local schools. The top-performing peers in the area include Yarlside Academy, St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Ulverston, and Staveley CofE School, all of which achieved higher ranking scores. Grange's own ranking score of 56 is based on the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2. The school is led by headteacher Paula Whinfield and has a capacity of 189 pupils, though it currently hosts 191, slightly over capacity. It offers nursery provision and a range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, forest school, music rooms, art studios and a chapel, alongside clubs such as eco club, chess and film club.

In its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023, Grange CofE Primary School was rated Good across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, as well as early years provision. This is consistent with its previous inspection in 2014, which also awarded a Good overall rating. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 56% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, slightly below the local authority average of 58%. In individual subjects, 78% met expectations in reading, writing and maths separately, with average scores of 106 in reading and 104 in maths. A higher standard was reached by 28% in reading and maths, and 17% in writing. No pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects combined. Progress scores are not available for reading, writing or maths, so it is not possible to compare pupil progress against national averages.

The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 23 first-preference applications for 23 places and 40 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.74. This suggests strong local demand. Grange provides support for pupils with specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and other difficulties or disabilities. Sports offered include rounders, football, cricket, gymnastics, dance and swimming, and the school has a gymnasium and playing fields on site. With its Church of England character, nursery provision and forest school, Grange CofE Primary School is likely to suit families seeking a faith-based primary with a broad range of facilities and a Good Ofsted rating, though those prioritising top academic rankings may look to higher-performing peers in the area.

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