Ambleside CofE Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Part of THE GOOD SHEPHERD MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

Vicarage Road, Ambleside, LA22 9DH

01539 432181 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 28 February 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths75%England 62% · 2024/25
Pupils52Room for 140 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 98 in 2019, 85 in 2021, 81 in 2022, 80 in 2023, 75 in 2024, 64 in 2025, 52 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.05 for 5 places, September 2026
Joint 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 28 February 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

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 1 January 2024 and 6 January 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.

StatementThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 47th highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 97% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 51st highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 98% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 48th highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 94% 84%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 18 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 48th highest of 57 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 34% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78% 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. 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.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

8 pupils in this year group.

Only 8 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.

75% — 17 points above the Westmorland and Furness average, and 13 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 75% 58% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 25% 6% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 75% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 75% 69% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 88% 73% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 109 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 110 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 46%This school 2023/24: 73%This school 2024/25: 75% This school England 62% 2022/23 46% 2023/24 73% 2024/25 75%

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 offered5
Families who put it first5
Of those, offered a place5 (100%)
Families who listed it at all10

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.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Westmorland and Furness

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.7% 16.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.7% 4.5%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.8% 13.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
17.2% 5.4%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Lower than 76% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.2% 4.4%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Lower than 91% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.8% 8.7%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 1.0 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 0.6% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Higher than 7% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
14.7 19.0 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Ambleside.
Higher than 13% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.3 9.5 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 2nd highest of 80 state primary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 96% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
40.0% 13.3%* 14.4%*

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; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Ambleside CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ambleside CofE Primary School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 February 2024.

How did Ambleside CofE Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Ambleside CofE Primary School?

88% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Ambleside CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Ambleside CofE Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 5 families put Ambleside CofE Primary School as their first choice for 5 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 5 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.