Pennington CofE School, Ulverston

Good
Primary
Voluntary controlled school
Mixed
Church of England
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.4km)Possible (~2.0km)Unlikely (~2.6km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Helen Storey
Pupils:211 / 210 capacity
LA:Westmorland and Furness
Phone:01229587253
Address:Pennington, Ulverston, LA12 0RR
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:112284
UKPRN:10074923
Diocese:Diocese of Carlisle
Constituency:Barrow and Furness
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Pennington CofE School creates a happy, supportive environment where children thrive both academically and personally. The school places a strong emphasis on reading and provides excellent support for children with additional needs. Beyond academics, pupils benefit from a rich programme of enrichment activities and develop into responsible, well-rounded citizens who actively contribute to their community.

Key Strengths

  • Teachers are well-trained with secure subject knowledge and deliver the curriculum very effectively
  • Strong focus on reading with a well-structured phonics programme helping pupils become fluent readers
  • Excellent support for pupils with SEND who progress well and thrive alongside their peers
  • Broad, ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils
  • Well-behaved pupils who are kind to one another and engaged in their learning

Areas for Improvement

  • In some subjects, key knowledge that pupils should learn is not clearly defined, making it harder for teachers to check progress
  • Need to identify essential learning more clearly in these subjects so teachers can better assess what pupils know and remember

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective with appropriate oversight and an open, positive culture that prioritises pupils' interests.

Extracurricular Activities

Orienteering, chess, gardening club, residential trips, fundraising events, challenge action group, community events (printfest, remembrance)

Pennington CofE School is a welcoming primary school where pupils flourish and rise to high expectations. The school has maintained good standards since its last inspection in 2020.

At a Glance

9.5%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

50 responses
Would recommend98%
Child is happy96%
Well taught98%
Good progress92%
Feels safe98%
Well behaved98%
Bullying dealt with20%
Kept informed96%
Handles concerns58%
Wider development90%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+18ppMaths+1ppWriting-10pp

Reading has improved from 76% to 94%. Maths has remained stable at around 87%. Writing has declined from 81% to 71%.

Class Sizes

28.9

Avg class size

27.3

Infant (KS1)

30.0

KS2

7

Total classes

2 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Latest from Pennington CofE School

From Pennington CofE School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

100%

Over capacity

211 pupils

210 capacity

1 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Ulverston

Low pressure
New homes approved:99
Projected new pupils:25

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ulverston

Admissions Demand - Westmorland and Furness

Low demand0.65x oversubscription

Places available

2,627

Applications

1,698

Got 1st preference

97.9%

Got preferred school

99.4%

Primary admissions across Westmorland and Furness (2025/26)

Inspection History(106)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.82583%

Overall absence

5.91398%

Persistent absence

186

Enrolments

Authorised2.71596%
Unauthorised1.10987%
Persistent (10%+)5.91398%
Severe (50%+)0.53763%

Absence trend

3.01806%
18/19
2.01821%
20/21
5.34068%
21/22
4.67905%
22/23
4.24238%
23/24
3.82583%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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