SchoolScoresBowness-on-Solway Primary School
Foundation school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Bowness-on-Solway, Wigton, CA7 5AF
01697 351384 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 May 2015.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 1 May 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Wigton comparisons use the 10 of its 18 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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 | Wigton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 97% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 93% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 10th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 26%). 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. Wigton figures pool parents at the Wigton 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
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% — 19 points above the Cumberland average, and 13 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 75% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 75% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 88% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 103 | 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 Cumberland. 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 | 4 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 4 |
| Of those, offered a place | 4 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 4 |
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 | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.5% | 22.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 15th highest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 13.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 8th highest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 6.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Lower than 98% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 10.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 18th highest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Higher than 1% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 8.8 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 16th highest of 18 state primary schools in Wigton. Higher than 4% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 6.9 | 9.6 | 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 Bowness-on-Solway Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bowness-on-Solway Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 May 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 1 May 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Bowness-on-Solway 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 Bowness-on-Solway Primary School?
64% of the 11 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Bowness-on-Solway Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bowness-on-Solway Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 4 families put Bowness-on-Solway Primary School as their first choice for 4 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 4 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 112414.
- 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.