SchoolScoresAlston Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Church Road, Alston, CA9 3QU
01434 381236 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 21 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Westmorland and Furness comparisons use the 65 of its 121 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 56 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 97% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 56th highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 94% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 20 parents who had raised a concern Joint 40th highest of 57 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 55% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 88% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 54th highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 94% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 30%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Westmorland and Furness figures pool parents at the Westmorland and Furness schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
13 pupils in this year group.
38% — 20 points below the Westmorland and Furness average, and 24 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 38% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 69% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 69% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 69% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Westmorland and Furness. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 10 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 10 |
| Of those, offered a place | 10 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 10 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 31st highest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.4% | 16.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 50th highest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 4.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 63rd highest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.6% | 13.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 91st highest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 5.4%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 57th lowest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 74% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 4.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 32nd lowest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 94% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.9% | 8.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 121st lowest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 0% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 40.2 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 121st lowest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 0% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 9.2% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 63rd highest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 20% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.6 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 83rd highest of 121 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 11% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.1 | 9.5 | 10.6 |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26.
Questions parents ask
What is Alston Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 21 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Alston Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 38% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 24 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Alston Primary School?
88% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Alston Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Alston Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 10 families put Alston Primary School as their first choice for 10 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 10 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 112101.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.