SchoolScoresPennington CofE School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Pennington, Ulverston, LA12 0RR
01229 587253 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 March 2020.
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 |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 30 April 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
50 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Ulverston comparisons use the 5 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 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 | Ulverston | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ulverston. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 98% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ulverston. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ulverston. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 97% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ulverston. Higher than 70% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 65% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 32 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ulverston. Higher than 76% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 93% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ulverston. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 97% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 25%). 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. Ulverston figures pool parents at the Ulverston 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
31 pupils in this year group.
65% — 7 points above the Westmorland and Furness average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 6% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 94% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 87% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 39 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (74%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 73 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.3
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 | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.4% | 16.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 4.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.4% | 13.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 8th highest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 5.4%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Lower than 84% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 4.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Lower than 85% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 8.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. 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 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. 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 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Higher than 96% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.4 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Ulverston. Higher than 77% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.4 | 9.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools in Ulverston. Higher than 72% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 19.5% | 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
- Lindal and Marton Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 27% met expected standard (KS2)
- Croftlands Infant School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Croftlands Junior School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sir John Barrow School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Church Walk CofE Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Low Furness CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Dalton-In-Furness 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 3 expected · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ireleth St Peter's CofE Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- George Romney Junior School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Pennington CofE School's Ofsted rating?
Pennington CofE School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 March 2020. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Pennington CofE School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Pennington CofE School?
98% of the 50 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Pennington CofE School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Pennington CofE School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 39 families put Pennington CofE School as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 29 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 112284.
- 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.