Silloth Primary School

About Silloth Primary School

Silloth Primary School is a state-funded, mixed primary school in Cumberland, serving children aged 3 to 11. In the local authority's rankings for Key Stage 2 performance, it sits at 49th out of 144 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half of the area. Its top-performing local peers include Jericho Primary School, Irthington Village School, and Shankhill CofE Primary School, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. Despite this mid-table position on academic outcomes, the school has an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a distinction held by only five primary schools across the entire Cumberland authority. The school is led by headteacher Catherine Bellas and has a capacity of 210 pupils, with 177 currently enrolled. It is not oversubscribed, receiving exactly 28 first-preference applications for its 28 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, meaning any family who applies is likely to secure a spot.

Academically, Silloth's Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined was 57%, which is slightly above the Cumberland local authority average of 54%. However, only 4% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. In individual subjects, 74% met the expected standard in maths, 70% in writing, and 65% in reading. Average scaled scores were 101 in maths and 102 in reading, both close to the national baseline of 100. The school's overall ranking score of 57 places it in the bottom 50% nationally, at the 63rd percentile. Ofsted's most recent graded inspection in 2017 rated the school Outstanding overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and the quality of education. A subsequent ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed the school remains Outstanding, though with some concerns noted.

Silloth offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, art studios, an ICT suite, music rooms, playing fields, and a chapel. Sports provision includes gymnastics, football, cricket, swimming, and dance, while extracurricular clubs cover science, drama, and chess. The school has a nursery provision for younger children and does not have a sixth form. Its SEND support covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With a free school meals rate of 20.4%, the school serves a community with above-average economic need. Given its Outstanding Ofsted rating, strong early years provision, and accessible admissions, Silloth is a solid choice for local families who prioritise a well-regarded school environment over top-tier academic rankings, particularly those with children in the early years or with SEND requirements.

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