Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School

About Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School

Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School is a small state primary in Westmorland and Furness, a local authority that includes 121 primary schools. It sits at rank 35 in the LA on the KS2 expected standard measure, placing it in the top half of local primaries. The top-performing peers in the same authority are Yarlside Academy, St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Ulverston, and Staveley CofE School, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. With just 33 pupils on roll against a capacity of 70, the school is genuinely small, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 confirmed it remains Good overall. The leadership and management were judged Outstanding, a notable strength that stands out in a school of this size. Headteacher Carol Sharp leads a team that has clearly maintained standards since the previous graded inspection in 2014, which also awarded Good overall. The school does not have a religious character, and it offers nursery provision for younger children.

Academically, Hawkshead Esthwaite performs solidly against local averages. At Key Stage 2, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is nine percentage points above the Westmorland and Furness LA average of 58%. In reading, the average scaled score was 107, and 78% of pupils met the expected standard, while in maths the average score was 105 with the same proportion hitting the expected level. Writing also saw 78% at the expected standard. Higher-standard attainment was lower: 11% reached the higher bar in reading, writing and maths combined, with reading the strongest subject at 22% reaching the higher threshold. The school’s national ranking places it in the 38th percentile among all primaries, and within the North West region it sits in the 37th percentile. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds beyond these attainment figures.

The school offers a good range of facilities for its size, including a library, music rooms, a sports hall, playing fields and even a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, football, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, rounders and cross country, and there are clubs in coding, drama, art, science and choir. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school was oversubscribed: it had 3 first-preference applications for 3 places, with 6 total applications, giving a ratio of 2 applicants per place. This suggests strong local demand despite the small intake. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 9.1%, below the national average. This is a school that will suit families looking for a very small, community-focused primary with strong leadership, good core results and a broad extracurricular offer, set in a rural part of Cumbria.

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