Kells Infant School

About Kells Infant School

If you're looking for a school where parents are overwhelmingly positive, Kells Infant School makes a strong impression. In the most recent Parent View survey, every single respondent said they would recommend the school, with 100% answering yes. That level of unanimity is rare and worth noting. The school is also clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 52 applications for just 34 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.53. All 34 first-preference applicants were offered a place, so being first choice is crucial. Digging into the survey details, the feedback is consistently strong. 92% of parents strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 77% strongly agreed that their child feels safe. On behaviour, 69% strongly agreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 85% strongly agreed that their child does well. The only area where a small number of parents expressed a concern was around bullying, with 8% disagreeing that it is dealt with quickly and effectively, though 77% said the question was not applicable to them.

Academically, Kells Infant School is rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in October 2024, with some notable strengths. The early years provision and personal development were both judged Outstanding, which is a strong signal for a school that takes children from age three. Behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and the quality of education were all rated Good. This represents a change from the school's previous inspection in 2014, when it was judged Outstanding overall. While the overall effectiveness was not judged in the latest inspection, the breakdown shows a school that remains strong in the foundations of early learning. The school serves a relatively small cohort of 116 pupils against a capacity of 160, and just 7.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. For context, the local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment is 54%, though as an infant school Kells does not have its own published KS2 results, so direct comparison is not possible.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, ICT suite, art studios, and a gymnasium, and runs clubs such as coding, science club, and gardening. Sports on offer include athletics, cricket, rounders, dance, tennis, and cross country. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for social, emotional and mental health, speech, language and communication, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. However, the Parent View data on SEND support was not answered by any respondents, so it is difficult to gauge parent satisfaction in that area. With a nursery provision on site, Kells Infant School is a good fit for families in Cumberland looking for a single setting from age three up to Year 2, particularly those who value strong early years care and a school where the vast majority of parents are unequivocally happy. The oversubscription means it is worth registering your interest early.

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