Threlkeld CofE Primary School

About Threlkeld CofE Primary School

Threlkeld CofE Primary School received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in October 2024, a notable drop from the Good rating it had held since its previous inspection in 2012. The school’s academic outcomes are the primary concern: just 30% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, compared with a local authority average of 58%. This places Threlkeld in the bottom 50 nationally for this metric, ranked 93rd out of 99 primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. The Ofsted report rated both the quality of education and leadership and management as Requires Improvement, while early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all judged Good. The school is small, with just 44 pupils on roll against a capacity of 60, and 13.9% of children are eligible for free school meals.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is mixed across individual subjects. In reading, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard and 10% achieved a higher standard, with an average scaled score of 104. In writing, 40% met the expected standard and 30% reached the higher standard. Maths was weaker: 50% of pupils achieved the expected standard and 10% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 100. Progress scores are not available for the school, so it is not possible to see how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The school’s overall ranking score of 30 out of 100, based on the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, places it well behind local peers such as Yarlside Academy and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Ulverston. Parents responding to the Ofsted Parent View survey were divided: 67% would recommend the school, but 33% would not.

The school offers a range of facilities including a forest school, chapel, library, art studios and an outdoor playground, plus sports such as gymnastics, netball and cross country. Clubs include chess, science club and gardening. Threlkeld has nursery provision for children from age three and provides support for pupils with specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. The school was oversubscribed for Reception places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 13 applications for 9 places and all 9 first-preference applicants offered a place. Parent views on communication and concern-handling were notably mixed: 40% of respondents disagreed that the school makes them aware of what their child will learn, and 27% disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly. This is a small, Church of England village school that may suit families who value its rural setting and forest school provision, but the academic results and Ofsted rating are significant considerations.

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