Culgaith CofE School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Culgaith, Culgaith, Penrith, CA10 1QL

0176888655 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 November 2023
Pupils56Room for 64 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 44 in 2019, 37 in 2021, 40 in 2022, 40 in 2023, 51 in 2024, 52 in 2025, 56 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 3rd highest of 24 state primary schools in Penrith.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 November 2023.

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 educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Penrith comparisons use the 14 of its 26 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 12 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 schoolPenrithEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 1st highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penrith.
Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 98% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penrith.
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 8th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penrith.
Higher than 73% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 93% 84%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 17 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 1st highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penrith.
Higher than 95% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 90% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 1st highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penrith.
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. 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. Penrith figures pool parents at the Penrith 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.

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Results

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

4 pupils in this year group.

Only 4 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.

MeasureThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 58% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 6% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading Not published 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing Not published 69% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths Not published 73% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 104 105

"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.

Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 67%This school 2023/24: 56% This school England 62% 2022/23 67% 2023/24 56% 2024/25 –

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 all16

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
14th highest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
8.7% 16.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.7% 4.5%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
22nd highest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.7% 13.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
10th highest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.9% 5.4%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
15th lowest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Lower than 73% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.3% 4.4%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
Joint 23rd lowest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Lower than 35% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
14.3% 8.7%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
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 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
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
13th highest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Higher than 17% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
17.2 19.0 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 21st highest of 26 state primary schools in Penrith.
Higher than 7% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
7.5 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.

Nearby primary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Culgaith CofE School's Ofsted rating?

Culgaith CofE School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2023.

How did Culgaith CofE School do in its SATs?

DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.

Would parents recommend Culgaith CofE School?

100% of the 24 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Culgaith CofE School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Culgaith CofE School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 5 families put Culgaith CofE 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.