Holme Primary School

About Holme Primary School

Holme Primary School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 27 applications for just 15 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.8. All 15 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning that while the school is oversubscribed, those who put it first have a strong chance of getting in. The school’s parentView data isn’t available in this dataset, but the demand alone suggests a solid reputation. Headteacher Craig Dewar-Willox leads a small school of 135 pupils, which is actually over its stated capacity of 105. That tight-knit feel is reinforced by a low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 7.1%, well below the national average. The school is non-religious and co-educational, taking children from age 3 through to 11, with nursery provision on site.

Academically, Holme Primary performs well against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 65% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That’s comfortably above the Westmorland and Furness local authority average of 58%. The school ranks 38th out of 99 primary schools in the LA, placing it in the top 50% nationally. Individual subject scores are strong: reading and maths both achieved an average scaled score of 108 and 105 respectively, with 74% of pupils hitting the expected standard in each. Writing is a particular strength, with 87% reaching the expected level and 17% working at a higher standard. At the higher end, 9% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 was an ungraded visit that confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held consistently since at least its previous graded inspection in 2015.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including an art studio, music rooms, an ICT suite, a sports hall and an outdoor playground. There’s even a chapel, which is unusual for a school with no religious character. Sports provision covers swimming, athletics, cross country, tennis, cricket and dance, while extracurricular clubs include drama, choir, science club, gardening and eco club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school supports pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. Given its oversubscription and strong local ranking, Holme Primary is best suited to families living within its catchment area who value a well-regarded, community-focused primary with consistent academic outcomes and a broad enrichment offer.

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