Grayrigg CofE School
141%
Capacity
79
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Grayrigg CofE School
Grayrigg CofE School is a small Church of England primary in Westmorland and Furness, serving 79 pupils aged 4 to 11. It sits in the middle of the local authority's primary school rankings, placing 46th out of 99 schools of the same type. The top-performing peers in the area are Yarlside Academy, St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Ulverston, and Staveley CofE School, all of which outrank it on the local league table. Despite this mid-table position, the school is clearly popular with local families. It was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 18 applications for just 11 places, with all 11 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.64, suggesting strong demand for a school that, on paper, doesn't lead the pack academically but clearly holds appeal for parents in the area.
Academically, Grayrigg's Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 60%, slightly above the Westmorland and Furness local authority average of 58%. Reading was a particular strength, with 87% of pupils meeting the expected standard and 27% reaching the higher standard. Maths followed at 80% expected and 20% higher, while writing lagged behind at 60% expected. The school's average reading score of 108 and maths score of 103 are solid. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2020, the school was rated Good overall, and an ungraded inspection in February 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained. Notably, inspectors rated early years provision and personal development as Outstanding, with behaviour and attitudes, leadership, and quality of education all judged Good.
The school offers a strong set of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, chapel, art studios and music rooms, plus sports such as swimming, netball and cross country. Clubs range from drama and choir to gardening and film club. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of respondents would recommend the school, and 95% strongly agreed their child is happy there. SEND support is well-regarded, with 100% of parents strongly agreeing that children with special educational needs get the support they need. The school's SEND provisions cover dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and autistic spectrum disorder. With a nursery on site and a capacity of 56 pupils (currently oversubscribed at 79), Grayrigg suits families looking for a close-knit, Church of England primary with strong pastoral care and a clear focus on personal development.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Grayrigg, Kendal, Westmorland and Furness, LA8 9BU |
| Headteacher | Kirsty Cooper |
| Local Authority | Westmorland and Furness |
| Number of Pupils | 79 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.3% |
| School Capacity | 79 / 56 (141% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Feb 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (25 Feb 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Mar 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (60%)
7670th of 13,686
Nationally
1090th of 2,065
In North West
46th of 99
In Westmorland and Furness
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
60%
Expected Standard
7%
Higher Standard
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
41 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed11
18
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
11 families put this school as their 1st choice (61% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Breakfast club
08:00-08:30
After-school care
15:30-17:30
Source: grayrigg.cumbria.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.9%
- White (other)1.3%
- Mixed1.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Grayrigg CofE School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Grayrigg, Kendal
Westmorland and Furness, LA8 9BU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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