North Lakes School, Penrith

In its own words: "At North Lakes, we pride ourselves on being a caring school community, where everyone can grow, learn and adapt for the future to achieve personal success. Please navigate through the different sections of our site and make yourself at home!"

From the headteacher's welcome: "Located in the beautiful town of Penrith in Cumbria, our school is an ambitious, caring and inclusive environment that places our children at the heart of everything we d o. Our aim for every child is to ensure that they feel safe, valued and inspired to discover joy and wonder in their learning and the world around them."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, tennis, gymnastics, cooking and art.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £3.20 per day.

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at North Lakes School reached the expected standard in reading and 56% 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 64% in reading and 49% 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 North Lakes School are Brunswick School (0.7 miles, Good); St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Penrith (0.8 miles, 44% reading, 50% maths); Beaconside CofE Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 62% reading, 66% maths); and Yanwath Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths).

North Lakes School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

In 2026, 58 pupils (36%) received SEN support and 15 (9.3%) 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.

North Lakes School has a resourced provision for autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 9 places, 5 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 770 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wetheriggs Junior School (outside), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 112 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting 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.

In 2024/25, North Lakes School issued 9 suspensions, 5.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to North Lakes School are Ullswater Community College (0.2 miles) and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith (0.3 miles).