Calthwaite CofE School, Penrith
Calthwaite CofE School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Penrith. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 18 schools in Penrith with published results, and 6,591st of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 116% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Westmorland and Furness (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Calthwaite CofE School in detail
Calthwaite CofE School in its own words
In its own words: "Please see links below for some key non-statutory information about our school. You must publish the percentage of key stage 2 pupils who achieved:"
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include rugby, hockey, cricket, multi-sports, dance, Lego, cooking, gardening and forest school.
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Calthwaite CofE School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Westmorland and Furness and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 88% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Calthwaite CofE School
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Calthwaite CofE School as their first choice and 19 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Calthwaite CofE School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Calthwaite CofE School are High Hesket CofE School (2.5 miles, Outstanding, 65% reading, 61% maths); Plumpton School (2.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 64% maths); Ivegill CofE School (3.5 miles, Good, 85% reading, 100% maths); and Skelton School (3.6 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths).
Calthwaite CofE School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
High Hesket CofE SchoolPlumpton SchoolIvegill CofE SchoolSkelton School
What parents say
38 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Calthwaite CofE School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (92%).
Who goes there
11.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 8 pupils (11.6%) received SEN support and 2 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Staffing
Calthwaite CofE School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Calthwaite CofE School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (outside), 30 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Calthwaite CofE School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a school where every child is truly welcomed and happy. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and create learning activities that help pupils take great pride in their work, leading to exceptional achievement across all subjects. The school has developed a wonderful community spirit, with older pupils supporting younger ones and everyone - pupils and staff - getting along extremely well.
Key Strengths
- Carefully designed curriculum with crystal-clear knowledge and skills that pupils retain well across all subjects
- Exceptional pupil behaviour with exemplary manners and strong relationships between older and younger pupils
- Reading placed at the centre of everything - pupils develop a genuine love of reading with well-trained staff in phonics teaching
- Precise assessment practices with staff skilfully using information to adapt learning and address misconceptions
- Pupils with SEND identified quickly and successfully supported to thrive and achieve alongside peers
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff maintaining an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Music lessons, sports clubs, charity fundraising, visits to cities including Liverpool and Newcastle, visits to synagogues, mosques, museums and galleries, community coffee mornings for older residents
Calthwaite CofE School is a welcoming village primary school where pupils thrive and achieve exceptionally well. Evidence suggests the school's work has improved significantly across all areas since the previous inspection.
At a Glance
11.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
38 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 88% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 86% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 63% to 57% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.0
Avg class size
27.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Calthwaite CofE School
Term dates
Calthwaite CofE School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Westmorland and Furness's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Calthwaite CofE School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Calthwaite CofE School is in Westmorland and Furness; for families living there:
- Westmorland and Furness's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy 2027 to 2028 (Reception to Year 11)
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Calthwaite CofE School
Will you get a place at Calthwaite CofE School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Calthwaite CofE School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Calthwaite CofE School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Calthwaite CofE School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Westmorland and Furness, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Calthwaite CofE School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Westmorland and Furness got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
116%
Over capacity
65 pupils
56 places
9 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Penrith
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Penrith
Across Westmorland and Furness council
Places available
2,590
Applications
1,692
Got 1st preference
96.1%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Westmorland and Furness council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
14.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
69
Total Pupils
38
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
11.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,347
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,644
Per pupil
£525k
Total funding
£8k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.1%
Overall absence
1.7%
Persistent absence
58
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Calthwaite CofE School
What are SATs results like at Calthwaite CofE School?
Of the pupils at Calthwaite CofE School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 86% did so in maths.
What is Calthwaite CofE School's Ofsted rating?
Calthwaite CofE School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Calthwaite CofE School?
No fixed boundary. When Calthwaite CofE School is oversubscribed, Westmorland and Furness allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Calthwaite CofE School?
Calthwaite CofE School was full in 2025, at 116% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Calthwaite CofE School?
Classes at Calthwaite CofE School average 23 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Calthwaite CofE School?
Calthwaite CofE School has around 69 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Calthwaite CofE School?
3.1% of sessions were missed at Calthwaite CofE School in 2024/25. 1.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Calthwaite CofE School?
Apply through Westmorland and Furness's coordinated admissions process, naming Calthwaite CofE School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Calthwaite CofE School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Calthwaite CofE School?
Calthwaite CofE School is at Calthwaite, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9QT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)