St Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School

About St Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School

St Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School is a popular choice among local families, with 24 first-preference applications for its 24 places in the 2025/26 admissions round and a total of 34 applications overall, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.42. The school, which has a Church of England character and is led by headteacher Michael Craig, currently has 258 pupils on roll against a capacity of 305, so there is some room for growth. The most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 rated the school Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This marks a consistent performance, as the previous inspection in 2014 also awarded a Good rating for overall effectiveness and leadership and management. The school's nursery provision means children can join from age three, and the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is low at 6.4 per cent.

Academically, St Herbert's performs broadly in line with local averages. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 57 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Cumberland local authority average of 54 per cent. The school's ranking within the local authority places it at 51st out of 111 primary schools, putting it in the bottom half of the LA table. Reading scores were a relative strength, with an average scaled score of 105 and 72 per cent of pupils meeting the expected standard, while maths saw an average score of 103 and 63 per cent at expected. At the higher standard, 17 per cent of pupils achieved the top level across all three subjects. The school does not have a sixth form, as it is a primary-only setting, and its rankings nationally place it in the 64th percentile.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a Forest School, art studios, a sports hall, a sensory room and a chapel, which supports its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers football, gymnastics, cricket, dance, swimming, rounders and athletics, while extracurricular clubs include coding, drama, choir, gardening and film club. For families with children who have additional needs, St Herbert's provides support for a wide spectrum of conditions, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and physical disabilities. This breadth of SEND provision, combined with the nursery and the oversubscribed admissions, suggests a school that is well-regarded locally and suits families looking for a community-focused primary with a Christian ethos and strong pastoral support.

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