Penny Bridge CofE School, Ulverston
Penny Bridge CofE School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Ulverston, part of The Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 9 schools in Ulverston with published results, and 11,322nd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 116% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- 1.5 first choices per place
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
Penny Bridge CofE School in detail
Penny Bridge CofE School in its own words
In its own words: "At Penny Bridge CE Academy, we endeavour to give every member of our school community the opportunity to let their light shine, allowing individuals to reach their potential in all aspects of school life. Everyone has a sense of belonging, is understood and are valued."
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Penny Bridge CofE School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Westmorland and Furness and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (70% in reading, 60% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Penny Bridge CofE School
For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Penny Bridge CofE School as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is 1.5 first choices for every place. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Penny Bridge CofE School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Penny Bridge CofE School are Leven Valley CofE Primary School (2.8 miles, Good, 73% reading, 64% maths); Church Walk CofE Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths); Sir John Barrow School (3.2 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 91% maths); and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston (3.5 miles, 100% reading, 83% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Penny Bridge CofE School.
Leven Valley CofE Primary SchoolChurch Walk CofE Primary SchoolSir John Barrow SchoolSt Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston
The trust
Penny Bridge CofE School is one of 13 schools run by The Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
6.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 21 pupils (17.1%) received SEN support and 1 (0.8%) 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.
Staffing
Penny Bridge CofE School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is LHR Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shelter (opposite), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11).
Suspensions and exclusions
Penny Bridge CofE School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; 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 agoOverall
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?
Penny Bridge CofE Primary School sits at the heart of its local and wider community. Pupils are happy and proud to attend this school.
The school expects pupils to achieve well, and they do. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), leave the school well prepared for the next stage in their education.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school places a high priority on the teaching of early reading. This begins as soon as children start in the Reception class. Children are encouraged to join in with stories that they know. They enjoy talking about how these relate to their own experiences. Across the early years and key stage 1, well-trained staff deliver the phonics programme effectively. Pupils quickly learn the sounds that they need in order to read the books that they take home. Any pupils who struggle to learn their sounds are well supported to quickly catch up with their peers.
Pupils of all ages enjoy reading. They know that reading is important and helps them to learn in other subjects too. Older pupils spoke with confidence about the books and authors that they enjoy.
From Ofsted's July 2024 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 July 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
6.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 60% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
15.8
Avg class size
14.5
Infant (KS1)
16.5
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Penny Bridge CofE School
Term dates
Penny Bridge CofE School 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 Penny Bridge CofE School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Penny Bridge CofE 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- 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, 1 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Penny Bridge CofE School
Will you get a place at Penny Bridge CofE School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Penny Bridge CofE School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Penny Bridge CofE School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Penny Bridge CofE 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 Penny Bridge CofE 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
116%
Over capacity
122 pupils
105 places
17 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ulverston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ulverston
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: 1.5 first choices per place
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
17.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
123
Total Pupils
66
Boys
57
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
15.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,811
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,642
Per pupil
£726k
Total funding
£6k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.2%
Overall absence
3.7%
Persistent absence
107
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Penny Bridge CofE School
What are SATs results like at Penny Bridge CofE School?
Of the pupils at Penny Bridge CofE School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Penny Bridge CofE School's Ofsted rating?
Penny Bridge CofE School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2011 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Penny Bridge CofE School?
No fixed boundary. When Penny Bridge CofE 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 Penny Bridge CofE School?
Penny Bridge CofE School was full in 2025, at 116% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Penny Bridge CofE School?
Classes at Penny Bridge CofE School average 15.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Penny Bridge CofE School?
Penny Bridge CofE School has around 123 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Penny Bridge CofE School?
3.2% of sessions were missed at Penny Bridge CofE School in 2024/25. 3.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Penny Bridge CofE School?
Apply through Westmorland and Furness's coordinated admissions process, naming Penny Bridge CofE 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.
How many road collisions happen near Penny Bridge CofE School?
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, 1 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Penny Bridge CofE School?
Penny Bridge CofE School is at Greenodd, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7RQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)