St Bees Village Primary School

About St Bees Village Primary School

St Bees Village Primary School is a mixed state primary in Cumberland with a published capacity of 210, but currently home to 170 pupils, meaning it is operating at around 81% of its total capacity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 6.5%, which is notably lower than the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively affluent local intake. Despite the spare capacity, the school is clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 26 applications for just 17 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.53. All 17 first-preference applicants were offered a place, so while the school is oversubscribed overall, those who put it as their top choice have a strong chance of success. The school also offers nursery provision for children from age two, which may help families secure a place early.

Academically, St Bees Village Primary has held a Good rating from Ofsted across its two most recent inspections, with the latest full graded inspection taking place in July 2018. In that inspection, the school received Good grades for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision. The previous inspection in 2012 also rated it Good overall, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time. For Key Stage 2 outcomes, the local authority average for primary schools in Cumberland is 54% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. While St Bees’ own KS2 results are not provided in the data, the school sits among strong peers in the area, with Jericho Primary, Irthington Village School and Shankhill CofE Primary all scoring highly on the local ranking. Parents looking for a school with a proven track record of Good provision will find this a reassuring choice.

The school is equipped with facilities including a gymnasium, library, playing fields, sports hall, music rooms and a chapel, and offers a broad range of sports such as rounders, swimming, netball, football and cross country. Clubs include drama, gardening, choir, film club and chess, giving children plenty of opportunities beyond the classroom. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is not a boarding school and does not have a sixth form, but its nursery provision makes it a viable option for families with younger children. With strong demand and a Good rating, St Bees Village Primary is a solid choice for families in the Cumberland area who value a consistent primary experience.

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