Goodly Dale Primary School, Windermere
Goodly Dale Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Windermere. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 29th-highest of the 98 schools in Westmorland and Furness with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 103% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
Goodly Dale Primary School in detail
Goodly Dale Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: ""Our school is small and friendly and we all know each other really well."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Goodly Dale Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% 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 100% in reading and 100% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Goodly Dale Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Goodly Dale Primary School as their first choice and 12 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Goodly Dale Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Goodly Dale Primary School are St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Windermere (0.2 miles, Requires improvement); St Martin & St Mary Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 63% reading, 81% maths); Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); and Staveley CofE School (3.9 miles, Good, 91% reading, 100% maths).
Goodly Dale Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, WindermereSt Martin & St Mary Church of England Primary SchoolHawkshead Esthwaite Primary SchoolStaveley CofE School
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Goodly Dale Primary School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).
Who goes there
11.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 21 pupils (27.3%) received SEN support and 3 (3.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Goodly Dale Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oakleigh Guest House (outside), 140 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Goodly Dale Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 2.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from April 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils flourish at this small, friendly school. Staff are extremely caring and there is a strong sense of family and belonging. Pupils of all ages get along very well together. Pupils feel confident to be themselves in the school's supportive atmosphere. Pupils are happy and feel safe.
Pupils are proud of their school and demonstrate a willingness to succeed. They work hard to meet the school's high expectations for their learning. Typically, pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has developed a broad, ambitious curriculum that successfully meets the needs of pupils, including those with SEND. In most subjects, the school has carefully considered what pupils should learn, starting from the beginning of the early years. However, in a small number of subjects the school has not clearly set out what pupils should learn in each year. In these subjects, pupils do not remember as much as they should.
In most subjects, teachers deliver the curriculum well. They select appropriate activities to help pupils learn and remember important information. Pupils enjoy learning. Children in the early years acquire the skills and knowledge that they need and are well prepared for Year 1.
From Ofsted's October 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.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2018 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
11.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
22 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 100% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 100% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 73% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Goodly Dale Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Goodly Dale Primary School.
- Carole Quill's Kids Club390m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Goodly Dale Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Westmorland and Furness. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Friday 16 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Goodly Dale Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Goodly Dale Primary 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)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 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 Goodly Dale Primary School
Will you get a place at Goodly Dale Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Goodly Dale Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Goodly Dale Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Goodly Dale Primary 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 Goodly Dale Primary 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
103%
Over capacity
72 pupils
70 places
2 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Windermere
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Windermere
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(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
31.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
77
Total Pupils
32
Boys
45
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
12.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,695
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,735
Per pupil
£546k
Total funding
£9k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
10.4%
Persistent absence
67
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
Goodly Dale Primary School
Questions parents ask about Goodly Dale Primary School
What are SATs results like at Goodly Dale Primary School?
Of the pupils at Goodly Dale Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Goodly Dale Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Goodly Dale Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Goodly Dale Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Goodly Dale Primary 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 Goodly Dale Primary School?
Goodly Dale Primary School was full in 2025, at 103% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How many pupils go to Goodly Dale Primary School?
Goodly Dale Primary School has around 77 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Goodly Dale Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Goodly Dale Primary School in 2024/25. 10.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Goodly Dale Primary School?
Apply through Westmorland and Furness's coordinated admissions process, naming Goodly Dale Primary 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.
Does Goodly Dale Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Goodly Dale Primary School: Carole Quill's Kids Club (390m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Goodly Dale Primary School's term dates?
Goodly Dale Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Westmorland and Furness. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Friday 16 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Goodly Dale Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 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 Goodly Dale Primary School?
Goodly Dale Primary School is at Lake Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 2JX.
Sources: Westmorland and Furness term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)