Plumbland CofE School, Wigton

Primary
Voluntary controlled school
Mixed
Church of England
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.9km)Possible (~4.1km)Unlikely (~5.4km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Claire McKie
Pupils:53 / 56 capacity
LA:Cumberland
Phone:01697320628
Address:School Lane, Parsonby, Wigton, CA7 2DQ
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Needs Attention
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Needs Attention
Early Years
Needs Attention
Inspected 2 June 2026View full report
URN:112275
UKPRN:10075850
Diocese:Diocese of Carlisle
Constituency:Penrith and Solway
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Plumbland CofE School creates a warm, caring environment where pupils feel secure and are well-supported. The school excels at including all learners, with excellent attendance and behaviour. Pupils benefit from a wealth of enrichment activities including outdoor education, music tuition, and visits that help them develop confidence and broaden their horizons.

Key Strengths

  • Excellent attendance rates well above national levels, with persistent absence significantly reduced
  • Strong inclusive culture with early identification of pupil needs and effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Pupils behave well, feel safe and secure, with bullying rare and dealt with promptly
  • Rich enrichment experiences including outdoor education, music tuition, visits and clubs
  • Well-designed, ambitious and broad curriculum with strong prioritisation of reading

Areas for Improvement

  • Teaching is not consistently effective - activities do not always help pupils learn and remember knowledge
  • Some pupils struggle with neat writing and make persistent spelling and grammar errors
  • Outcomes in national tests have been variable, with times tables and phonics screening below national averages
  • Early years adults do not consistently develop children's communication and language through correction and questioning
  • Governors lack sharp focus on impact of leaders' actions and do not adequately scrutinise progress data or spending on disadvantaged pupils

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Outdoor education, visits to cities, music tuition, clubs, sports, forest school, garden use for reflection

Plumbland CofE School is a caring, inclusive school where pupils feel safe and well-supported, with strong attendance and behaviour. However, teaching is not consistently effective and some pupils are not adequately prepared for their next stage of education.

At a Glance

13.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+6ppMaths+6ppWriting+11pp

Reading has improved from 83% to 89%. Maths has improved from 83% to 89%. Writing has improved from 67% to 78%.

Class Sizes

23.0

Avg class size

1

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

95%

Near capacity

53 pupils

56 capacity

3 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Wigton

Low pressure
New homes approved:222
Projected new pupils:56

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Wigton

Admissions Demand - Cumberland

Low demand0.68x oversubscription

Places available

3,571

Applications

2,437

Got 1st preference

98.5%

Got preferred school

99.7%

Primary admissions across Cumberland (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

2 June 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
7 June 2022
24 January 2017

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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

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.25103%

Overall absence

6.25%

Persistent absence

48

Enrolments

Authorised3.2554%
Unauthorised0.99564%
Persistent (10%+)6.25%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.13826%
18/19
2.38604%
20/21
2.99177%
21/22
4.57114%
22/23
3.87631%
23/24
4.25103%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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