Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal, Kendal
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Kendal, part of Mater Christi Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 13 schools in Kendal with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 67% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Westmorland and Furness (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal in detail
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our great school! And a great school it is, not because of the recognition it receives but because the children at the school achieve great things. Our school has an extraordinary staff team who work seamlessly with massively committed parents. The very high standards we achieve in all areas emerge very naturally from this effective partnership."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal reached the expected standard in reading and 81% 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 90% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal as their first choice and 32 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal are Vicarage Park CofE Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 64% reading, 52% maths); Ghyllside Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 86% reading, 83% maths); Heron Hill Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 93% reading, 85% maths); and Stramongate Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 75% reading, 90% maths).
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Vicarage Park CofE Primary SchoolGhyllside Primary SchoolHeron Hill Primary SchoolStramongate Primary School
The trust
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal is one of 16 schools run by Mater Christi Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
3.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 10 pupils (7.5%) received SEN support and 5 (3.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (opposite), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal are Kirkbie Kendal School (0.4 miles) and The Queen Katherine School (1.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoDean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2021. Before that, as Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School (URN 112341), it was rated Good in April 2016.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils enjoy attending this friendly and inviting school. They told the inspector that everybody is welcomed and made to feel equal at their school. Pupils look forward to seeing their friends each day, which helps them to feel happy. They appreciate the support that they receive from their teachers.
The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement. Typically, pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), rise to these. They achieve well. Pupils were eager to showcase their learning to the inspector. They enjoy recognition for their efforts, such as by receiving certificates in celebration assemblies.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has worked closely with the trust and with the local governing body to adopt a suitably balanced and ambitious curriculum. The curriculum has been strengthened during recent years, to ensure that pupils receive a high-quality education. The school has determined the small steps of knowledge that pupils should learn in each subject, and the order in which this should happen. Curriculum thinking begins in the early years, where children build the foundational knowledge that they need to be well prepared for key stage 1.
Staff benefit from training and support, which helps them to develop their knowledge of the subjects that they teach. Mostly, staff choose suitable learning activities and provide clear explanations to help pupils in understanding curriculum content. Nonetheless, in a few subjects, staff's effectiveness in delivering learning activities varies. At times, this limits how much and how well pupils learn the intended curriculum.
From Ofsted's June 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
At a Glance
3.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 81% to 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.5
Avg class size
22.5
Infant (KS1)
26.3
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal.
- Kendal Leisure Centre Holiday Playscheme860m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal is an academy, 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 Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal 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)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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 Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal
Will you get a place at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal.
- 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 Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal for 2022 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
67%
Available places
141 pupils
210 places
69 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Kendal
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Kendal
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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
10
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
11.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
134
Total Pupils
61
Boys
73
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
16.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,653
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,366
Per pupil
£830k
Total funding
£11k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1%
Overall absence
3.9%
Persistent absence
127
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal
Questions parents ask about Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal
What are SATs results like at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
Of the pupils at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal's Ofsted rating?
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2021. Before that, as Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School (URN 112341), it was rated Good in April 2016.
What is the catchment area for Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
No fixed boundary. When Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal 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 Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal was not full in 2025: it ran at 67% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
Classes at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal average 22.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal has around 134 pupils on roll. 4% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
4.1% of sessions were missed at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal in 2024/25. 3.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
Apply through Westmorland and Furness's coordinated admissions process, naming Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal 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.
Does Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal: Kendal Leisure Centre Holiday Playscheme (860m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal?
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal is at Hawesmead Avenue, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5HB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)