Skelton School, Penrith
Skelton School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Penrith. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 18 schools in Penrith with published results, and 1st of 14,452 across England. It was 78% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Westmorland and Furness (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Skelton School in detail
Skelton School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Skelton School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% 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 92% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Skelton School
For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Skelton School as their first choice and 15 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Skelton School are Greystoke Primary School (2.9 miles, Good); Calthwaite CofE School (3.6 miles, Good, 71% reading, 86% maths); Plumpton School (4 miles, Good, 64% reading, 64% maths); and Penruddock Primary School (4.8 miles, Requires improvement, 88% reading, 75% maths).
Skelton School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Greystoke Primary SchoolCalthwaite CofE SchoolPlumpton SchoolPenruddock Primary School
Who goes there
6.9% 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, 8 pupils (9.2%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Staffing
Skelton School had 7 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
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Skelton School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (outside), 40 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
Skelton 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 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
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 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?
Pupils enjoy coming to this school. They are happy and know that they are well cared for. This includes even the youngest children in the Nursery Year. The nurturing environment that the school has fostered means that pupils feel safe and that they know who to speak to if they have any concerns. Parents and carers described the school as having a 'family feeling'.
The school has high ambitions for what pupils can achieve. In lessons, pupils are motivated to work hard. The school's vision to develop pupils into 'confident and capable learners' is realised. This is reflected in the high quality of pupils' work. The majority of pupils learn well.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has an ambitious curriculum that clearly identifies the knowledge that pupils need to learn at different stages in many subjects. This is particularly the case in mathematics and has resulted in pupils being confident in exploring different concepts and processes. Pupils use the right vocabulary to discuss their learning in mathematics and they are making strong progress.
In areas where curriculum is less well defined, on occasion, the activities that staff select do not support pupils to learn essential knowledge as deeply as they could. Added to this, some staff do not have the expertise required to successfully adapt the delivery of the curriculum to meet the additional needs of pupils who find it difficult to learn the content and apply knowledge fluently.
From Ofsted's June 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 June 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
6.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 92% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 83% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 83% to 89% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
21.0
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
22.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Skelton School
Term dates
Skelton 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
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Skelton School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Skelton 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Skelton School
Will you get a place at Skelton School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Skelton School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Skelton School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Skelton 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 Skelton 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
78%
Available places
82 pupils
105 places
23 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Penrith
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Penrith
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
9.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
87
Total Pupils
37
Boys
50
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
12.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,177
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,644
Per pupil
£589k
Total funding
£5k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.0%
Overall absence
4.2%
Persistent absence
72
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Skelton School
What are SATs results like at Skelton School?
Of the pupils at Skelton School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% reached the expected standard in reading and 100% did so in maths.
What is Skelton School's Ofsted rating?
Skelton School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2013 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Skelton School?
No fixed boundary. When Skelton 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 Skelton School?
Skelton School was not full in 2025: it ran at 78% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Skelton School?
Classes at Skelton School average 21 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Skelton School?
Skelton School has around 87 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Skelton School?
3% of sessions were missed at Skelton School in 2024/25. 4.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Skelton School?
Apply through Westmorland and Furness's coordinated admissions process, naming Skelton 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.
What are Skelton School's term dates?
Skelton 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 Skelton School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Skelton School?
Skelton School is at Skelton, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9SE.
Sources: Westmorland and Furness term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)