Monkwray Junior School

About Monkwray Junior School

Monkwray Junior School is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 7 to 11, located in the Cumberland local authority. Within Cumberland, it ranks 81st out of 111 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half of the local league table. The top-performing peers in the area include Jericho Primary School, Irthington Village School, and Shankhill CofE Primary School, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. The school is led by headteacher Danielle Willis and has a current roll of 116 pupils against a capacity of 140, meaning it is not oversubscribed. Just over a third of its pupils (37.9%) are eligible for free school meals, a figure that is notably higher than the national average and reflects the school’s role in a community with above-average deprivation. The school does not have a religious character and does not offer nursery or sixth-form provision.

Academically, Monkwray’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This marks a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 2, the school’s results are mixed. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined is 44%, which is below the Cumberland local authority average of 54%. In individual subjects, 64% met the expected standard in maths, 52% in reading, and 48% in writing. The school’s ranking score of 44 places it in the bottom 50% nationally and regionally, at the 87th percentile nationally and the 85th percentile in the North West. Only 8% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, though 20% did so in maths and writing individually. Progress scores are not available in the data.

The school offers a range of facilities including art studios, a sensory room, a forest school area, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports provision includes cricket, football, dance, swimming, and cross country, while clubs cover drama, film, science, and eco themes. For pupils with additional needs, the school supports moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With capacity to spare and a Good Ofsted rating, Monkwray is a solid local option for families in Cumberland who want a mainstream primary with a broad enrichment offer and a strong focus on pastoral support, particularly for children who may benefit from the sensory room or forest school. It is not a selective or faith school, and its below-average KS2 results suggest it may suit families prioritising a supportive environment over top academic outcomes.

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