Patterdale CofE Primary School

About Patterdale CofE Primary School

Patterdale CofE Primary School’s headline metrics sit noticeably below the Westmorland and Furness local authority average for primary schools. The LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (combined) at Key Stage 2 is 58 per cent; at Patterdale, just 33 per cent of pupils achieved that benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. This places the school in the bottom half of primary schools nationally, ranking 90th out of 99 in its local authority. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In reading, 83 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, and the average reading score of 106 is solidly above the national benchmark of 100. Writing (67 per cent expected) and maths (50 per cent expected) are where the combined figure drops, suggesting specific areas of focus rather than a uniformly weak cohort.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2012, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. Its previous graded inspection, in 2008, had rated it Outstanding across the board, so the current Good rating represents a step down but still a solid outcome. With only 28 pupils on roll against a capacity of 42, class sizes are very small, which can allow for targeted support. Progress scores at Key Stage 2 are not available in the data, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds relative to starting points, but the raw attainment figures suggest reading is a relative strength.

Patterdale is a Church of England primary with nursery provision, serving children from age three to 11. It offers a range of facilities including a Forest School, sensory room, music rooms and an ICT suite, plus clubs such as Eco Club, coding and chess. Sports on offer include football, cricket, dance and netball. The school has identified SEND provisions for social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, and other difficulties or disabilities. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was not oversubscribed: four places were available, with four first-preference applications and four offers made. This is a small, rural school that could suit families looking for a close-knit setting with a Christian ethos, strong reading outcomes and a focus on outdoor learning, though parents should weigh the below-average combined KS2 results against the individual subject strengths.

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