SchoolScoresValley Primary School and Nursery
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Whinlatter Road, Whitehaven, CA28 8DA
01946 694152 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 March 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 7 March 2024: 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
14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
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 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 14% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 13% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 88% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitehaven. Higher than 32% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86%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
33 pupils in this year group.
36% — 20 points below the Cumberland average, and 26 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 36% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 39% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 73% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 55% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 98 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 99 | 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 27 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 24 |
| Of those, offered a place | 24 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 32 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
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 1st highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 42.5% | 22.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.1% | 13.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 6.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Lower than 11% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.9% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Lower than 11% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 21.5% | 10.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. 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 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. 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 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 33% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.1 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 10th highest of 14 state primary schools in Whitehaven. Higher than 11% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.1 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 8th highest of 13 state primary schools in Whitehaven. 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
- St Gregory and St Patrick's Catholic Infant School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Hensingham Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Monkwray Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- Jericho Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kells Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- St Begh's Catholic Junior School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moor Row Community Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed, may be improving 2024
- St James' CofE Junior School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Valley Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Valley Primary School and Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 March 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 7 March 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Valley Primary School and Nursery do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 36% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 26 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Valley Primary School and Nursery?
86% of the 14 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Valley Primary School and Nursery to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Valley Primary School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 24 families put Valley Primary School and Nursery as their first choice for 27 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 24 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 134214.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 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.