South Walney Junior School, Barrow-in-Furness

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades South Walney Junior School on 6 areas: 3 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have created a positive culture where pupils attend regularly."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders adopt a thoughtful and inclusive approach that prioritises knowing pupils well and identifying their needs promptly."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a broad programme for pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Most pupils achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a broad and engaging curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and inclusive vision for the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to develop consistently high-quality teaching of the curriculum so that pupils deepen their learning as well as they can"; "Leaders should build on their successful strategies to address gaps in pupils' basic knowledge and ensure that staff have consistently high expectations of what pupils can achieve, so that older pupils' achievement in writing improves"; "Those responsible for governance should ensure they are as well informed as possible on pupils' outcomes, so they can provide appropriate challenge that drives even higher standards of achievement".

In its own words: "South Walney Junior School will strive to create a solid foundation of excellence upon which our children can build their future. We will provide a structured, enriched curriculum which inspires and motivates all and leads to high standards of learning, giving all children the opportunity to achieve their potential."

The school runs after-school care until 6:00pm, from £5.00 per session.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at South Walney Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% 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 (91% in reading, 75% in maths).

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 South Walney Junior School are South Walney Infant and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles, Good); St Columba's School (0.3 miles, Good, 60% reading, 37% maths); Vickerstown School (0.7 miles, 27% reading, 23% maths); and Barrow Island Community Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 63% reading, 58% maths).

South Walney Junior School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

South Walney Junior School is one of 6 schools run by South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 38 pupils (18.2%) received SEN support and 17 (8.1%) 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.

South Walney Junior School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Amphritite Street (opposite), 70 metres away.

In 2024/25, South Walney Junior School issued 3 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.