Croftlands Junior School, Ulverston

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades Croftlands Junior School on 6 areas: 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school has established a clear and broad curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff understand pupils' needs well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have a clear understanding of how they thrive in school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context well and have designed a personal development programme that reflects pupils' needs."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils' attainment in national tests has remained below national expectations."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils have not attended school as often as they should."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that there is a consistent and precise approach to how teachers use assessment to accurately identify and address errors and misconceptions in pupils' work"; "Leaders should continue to build on their work to improve pupils' attainment, so that pupils are better prepared for the next stage of their education"; "Leaders should build on the work they have done to improve persistent absence to further develop the support and challenge for pupils, who do not attend school as well as they should".

In its own words: "No matter our children’s gifts, talents or abilities, we aim to nurture respectful, curious, compassionate, creative and resilient young minds. Supported by our staff and inspiring and ambitious curriculum, our children will leave primary school self-aware and ready to make a positive difference in the world."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our children are compassionate, respectful and curious individuals supported by a dedicated and skilled team of 25 staff."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis and athletics.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Croftlands Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Westmorland and Furness and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 71% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

Across Westmorland and Furness, 96% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Westmorland and Furness lodged 5 appeals against primary school offers; 5 reached a hearing and none succeeded.

The nearest other state primary schools to Croftlands Junior School are Croftlands Infant School (under 0.1 miles, Good); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston (0.5 miles, 100% reading, 83% maths); Sir John Barrow School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 91% maths); and Church Walk CofE Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Croftlands Junior School.

15.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Croftlands School (outside), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Croftlands Junior School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 42 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.

Croftlands Junior School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.