St Oswald's CofE Primary School, Kendal

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades St Oswald's CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders know pupils well and promote high expectations for attendance."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils develop a clear sense of right and wrong."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement in national tests varies."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum."

Early years - Needs attention. "Some children do not gain the knowledge they need as they move through the early years."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders work appropriately with families and external professionals to understand pupils' additional needs and to identify any support that they require."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders do not know precisely how well the school is performing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should make sure that teachers consistently adapt the curriculum to enable vulnerable pupils to learn well"; "Leaders should make sure that teachers plan activities that build pupils' knowledge effectively and do not allow gaps in pupils' understanding to appear"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers identify and address gaps in pupils' understanding, particularly in grammar, punctuation and spelling"; "Leaders should refine the early years curriculum so that adults can plan activities matched to what children need to learn to ensure that children are prepared well for Year 1"; "Governors should make sure that they are accurately informed about the school's performance and hold leaders to account precisely, particularly for pupil outcomes".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At St Oswald's, we are proud to be an inclusive, creative and aspirational school at the heart of our community, situated on the edge of the beautiful Lake District. Guided by our Christian values, we provide a happy, safe and stimulating environment where every child is respected, celebrated and encouraged to flourish."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care until 5:00pm, from £5 per session.

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at St Oswald's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 56% 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 58% in reading and 58% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put St Oswald's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Oswald's CofE Primary School are St Thomas's CofE Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 65% reading, 77% maths); Stramongate Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 75% reading, 90% maths); Ghyllside Primary School (2.1 miles, Good, 86% reading, 83% maths); and Castle Park School (2.3 miles, Good, 81% reading, 72% maths).

St Oswald's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

12.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 4 pupils (4.5%) received SEN support and 4 (4.5%) 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.

St Oswald's CofE Primary School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Burneside (Cumbria) Rail Station, about 360 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Oswald's School (at), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 19 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.

St Oswald's CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.