SchoolScoresSt Begh's Catholic Junior School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 7 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Coach Road, Whitehaven, CA28 7TE
01946 696959 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 July 2018.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 September 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Whitehaven comparisons use the 10 of its 14 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 4 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 | Whitehaven | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 9th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 3% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 9th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 2% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 88% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 32 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 5% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 28% | 45% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 1% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 37% | 79% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 9th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 2% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55%said yes | 87% | 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. Whitehaven figures pool parents at the Whitehaven 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
47 pupils in this year group.
47% — 9 points below the Cumberland average, and 15 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 47% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 79% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 55% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 66% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 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.
This is a Roman Catholic 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 38.7% | 22.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 1% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 13.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 6.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 13th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 10.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Lower than 62% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 31% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.0 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 67% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.7 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 13 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 18% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 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
- Monkwray Junior School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Gregory and St Patrick's Catholic Infant School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed, may be improving 2024
- St James' CofE Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Jericho Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kells Infant School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hensingham Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bransty Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Valley Primary School and Nursery 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 36% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Begh's Catholic Junior School's Ofsted rating?
St Begh's Catholic Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 July 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Begh's Catholic Junior School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 47% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Begh's Catholic Junior School?
55% of the 56 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Begh's Catholic Junior School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 112354.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.