St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Windermere

About St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Windermere

St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School in Windermere is a small Roman Catholic state primary with a nursery, currently teaching just 45 pupils against a capacity of 86. That means the school is running at just over half its potential size, which is striking for a village primary in the Lake District. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15.9%, slightly above the national average for primary schools, suggesting a modest but noticeable level of disadvantage in the intake. Despite the spare capacity, the school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 reception intake, with 8 applications for just 2 available places and an oversubscription ratio of 4 to 1. All 2 first-preference applicants received offers, so the oversubscription is driven by second-preference demand rather than a local shortage of first-choice places. The school serves a mixed community, with a Roman Catholic character that shapes its ethos, though the data doesn't specify whether admissions prioritise faith criteria.

Academically, the picture is mixed and improving. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, a step up from its previous Inadequate rating in February 2023. The inspection report shows that behaviour and attitudes, as well as personal development, were both rated Good, which suggests a positive and orderly environment for children. However, the quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision all remain Requires Improvement. The school's most recent Key Stage 2 results are not included in the data, so it's not possible to compare directly against the Westmorland and Furness local authority average of 58% achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. That said, the school is clearly on an upward trajectory from a low base, and the new headteacher Lucy Bone will be central to sustaining that improvement.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a library, gymnasium, outdoor playground, art studios, playing fields, a sensory room, a dining hall and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, dance and tennis, while extracurricular clubs include art, chess, choir, drama, book club and coding. The school has a specific SEND provision for social, emotional and mental health needs, which aligns with its Good rating for personal development. For families considering St Cuthberts, the key trade-off is between a small, community-focused Catholic primary with improving Ofsted grades and the risk that academic outcomes may still lag behind stronger local peers like Yarlside Academy or St Mary's in Ulverston. The oversubscription data suggests it remains a popular choice locally, but parents should weigh the recent inspection history carefully.

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