SchoolScoresBridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Dovenby, Cumbria, Bridekirk Dovenby School, Cockermouth, CA13 0PG
01900 829889 · 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 | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
81 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Cockermouth comparisons use the 6 of its 7 state primary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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 | Cockermouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cockermouth. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 98% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cockermouth. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cockermouth. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 94% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cockermouth. Higher than 91% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 61% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 53 parents who had raised a concern Joint 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cockermouth. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 88% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cockermouth. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 95% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 61%). 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. Cockermouth figures pool parents at the Cockermouth 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
15 pupils in this year group.
87% — 31 points above the Cumberland average, and 25 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 87% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 20% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 93% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 93% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 87% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 | 23 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 57 |
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, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 22.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Higher than 11% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.3% | 13.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 6.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Lower than 100% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Lower than 99% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 10.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. 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 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. 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 2nd highest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Higher than 83% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.6 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Higher than 39% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.1 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Cockermouth. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 13.4%* | 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
- Fairfield Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- All Saints' CofE School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion) · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Broughton Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Bridget's CofE School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dearham Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bridekirk Dovenby CofE 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 Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 25 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School?
100% of the 81 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School as their first choice for 23 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 23 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 112270.
- 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.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.