Vicarage Park CofE Primary School
43%
Capacity
91
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Vicarage Park CofE Primary School
Vicarage Park CofE Primary School is a small Church of England primary in Westmorland and Furness that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 40 applications for just 13 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.08. Every one of those 13 places went to a first-preference applicant, which suggests local families are actively choosing this school. The school doesn't publish a parent-view recommendation percentage, but the high demand speaks for itself. With only 91 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, it's a genuinely small school where class sizes are likely to be very manageable. The headteacher is Katie Green, and the school has a nursery provision, so families with younger children can get a foot in the door early.
Academically, Vicarage Park is a mixed picture. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2017, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for early years provision, leadership and management, and behaviour and attitudes. That rating was confirmed as remaining Good in an ungraded inspection in 2023. However, the school's KS2 results for 2023/24 are below the local authority average. Just 40% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Westmorland and Furness average of 58%. In the local rankings, that puts the school at 86th out of 99 primary schools. Individual subject scores are more encouraging: 64% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, and 60% in writing, with maths at 52%. Higher-standard attainment is modest, with 20% reaching the higher standard in reading and 16% in writing.
The school offers a decent range of facilities for its size, including a library, playing fields, a sports hall, a gymnasium, art studios, a chapel, and a sensory room. There's also a Forest School programme, which fits well with the Cumbrian setting. SEND provision covers Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs and Autistic Spectrum Disorder, so the school is equipped to support children with those requirements. Clubs include Eco Club, Gardening, Chess, Film Club, Art Club and Science Club, and sports on offer are dance, tennis, athletics and netball. For families who want a small, community-focused Church of England primary where their child won't get lost in a crowd, and who are comfortable with academic results that sit below the local average, Vicarage Park is clearly a popular choice. Just be prepared to apply early.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Vicarage Drive, Kendal, Westmorland and Furness, LA9 5BP |
| Headteacher | Katie Green |
| Local Authority | Westmorland and Furness |
| Number of Pupils | 91 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.5% |
| School Capacity | 91 / 210 (43% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (2 Feb 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 23 Oct 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (40%)
12449th of 13,686
Nationally
1847th of 2,065
In North West
86th of 99
In Westmorland and Furness
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
40%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed13
40
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
13 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:45-08:45
After-school care
15:15-18:00
Source: vicarageparkschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.1%
- White (other)2.2%
- Mixed1.1%
- Asian1.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Vicarage Park CofE Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Vicarage Drive, Kendal
Westmorland and Furness, LA9 5BP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Vicarage Park CofE Primary School!
Write a Review