Orton CofE School

About Orton CofE School

Orton CofE School is a small Church of England primary in Westmorland and Furness that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed, with 7 applications for just 6 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.17. All 6 first-preference applicants received an offer, which suggests that while demand is healthy, most families who put it first do get in. The school has nursery provision for children from age 3, and the total roll of 53 pupils is well below its capacity of 96, so there is room to grow. The headteacher is Emma Pomfret, and the school’s religious character is Church of England, which may appeal to families looking for a faith-based setting. The most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in 2022, confirmed that the school remains Good, a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Academically, Orton CofE School’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 paint a mixed picture. Just 43% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is well below the local authority average of 58%. The school ranks 83rd out of 99 primary schools in Westmorland and Furness on this measure, placing it in the bottom half nationally. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story. The average maths score was 103, with 71% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 14% achieving a higher standard. In reading, the average score was 102, with 43% meeting the expected standard and the same proportion reaching the higher standard. Writing was weaker, with 43% at expected and none at the higher level. Progress scores are not available, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds, but the small cohort size means results can fluctuate significantly from year to year.

The school offers a range of facilities including an outdoor playground, sports hall, music rooms, a forest school and a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, netball, dance and football, and there is a good selection of clubs such as book club, eco club, film club, science club, coding and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With just 53 pupils, this is a very small school where children are likely to be well known by staff. It will suit families who value a close-knit, faith-based environment and are comfortable with a school that is not academically selective and where combined SATs results are below the local average. The oversubscription suggests it is popular locally, but the small intake means places are limited.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Orton CofE School

Helpful Guides for Parents