Newton Village Academy

About Newton Village Academy

Newton Village Academy is a small primary school in Westmorland and Furness that, on its headline Key Stage 2 measure, sits comfortably above the local authority average. The school achieved a 63 per cent combined expected standard in reading, writing and maths in the 2023/24 academic year, compared with the LA average of 58 per cent for primary schools. That places it 42nd out of 99 schools in the authority, putting it in the top half of local primaries. Nationally, it ranks in the 49th percentile, meaning it performs roughly in line with the middle of schools across England. The school’s capacity is 80 pupils, and with 75 on roll it is nearly full, which suggests a steady local reputation. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in June 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained, and the school retains its overall Good rating from its last graded inspection in 2014.

Digging into the detail of the 2023/24 SATs results, the school’s strengths are uneven. Reading stands out: 100 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 106. Writing was also strong at 88 per cent expected, and maths at 75 per cent. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard in any subject was low — 13 per cent in maths, and zero in reading and writing. The combined expected rate of 63 per cent, while above the LA average, still means more than a third of pupils did not reach the expected level in all three subjects. The school has no Progress 8 data available, so it is not possible to say how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points. In the Ofsted breakdown, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness, were both graded Good. The previous inspection in 2011 also rated the school Good, so it has held that rating consistently across two full inspections.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 11 applications for just 4 places, and all first-preference applicants were offered a place. That oversubscription ratio of 2.75 to 1 suggests strong local demand. Facilities include a sensory room, forest school, music rooms, art studios, an ICT suite, and playing fields, which is a decent range for a school of this size. Clubs cover drama, choir, gardening and eco club, and sports include football, gymnastics, netball, cricket and tennis. The school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and visual impairment. Parent View responses from 32 parents in the 2024/25 period were overwhelmingly positive: 97 per cent would recommend the school, and 100 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. This is a school that suits families looking for a small, community-focused primary with solid core results and a wide range of enrichment, but where high-attaining pupils may need additional stretch.

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