High Hesket CofE School

About High Hesket CofE School

High Hesket CofE School is a Church of England primary in Westmorland and Furness that is noticeably smaller than its capacity allows, with 141 pupils on roll against a maximum of 200. That means there is room to grow, and the school is not yet full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 3.8%, which is well below the national average and suggests a relatively affluent intake. Despite the spare capacity, the school is oversubscribed for Reception places in 2025/26: it received 33 applications for 17 places, with 15 of those being first-preference choices. That oversubscription ratio of 1.94 indicates strong local demand, even if the overall roll hasn't yet reached the school's physical limit. The school has a nursery provision, so children can join from age three, and the headteacher is Amy Harvey.

Academically, High Hesket performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 76% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Westmorland and Furness average of 58%. That places the school 13th out of 99 primaries in the LA and in the top 25% nationally. Average scores in reading (108) and maths (107) are both above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 10% of pupils achieved the top marks across all three subjects, with 38% reaching that level in reading and 33% in maths. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2025 judged it Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes rated Outstanding. The early years provision, quality of education, personal development and leadership and management were all rated Good. The previous inspection in 2014 had rated the school Outstanding across all areas.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive. In the most recent Parent View survey, 100% of the 48 respondents said they would recommend the school, and every single parent agreed that their child is happy there. Strong agreement was particularly high for safety (92%), behaviour (85%) and the support given to children with SEND (90%). The school lists specific SEND provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, and visual impairment. Facilities include a Forest School, art studios, playing fields and a chapel, and there is a wide range of clubs from choir and eco club to coding and science club. Sports on offer include athletics, gymnastics, football, cricket, cross country, tennis and rounders. For families in the Westmorland and Furness area looking for a well-regarded Church of England primary with strong academic outcomes and a happy, safe environment, High Hesket is a compelling choice — though you will need to apply early given the oversubscription.

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