Thwaites School, Millom
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This small school creates a warm, supportive environment where children thrive and feel genuinely cared for. Teachers know pupils well and use this to help them achieve academically while building confidence and independence. The school offers exceptional opportunities for personal development, including memorable trips and residential visits that broaden pupils' horizons and prepare them well for secondary school.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personal development programme with meaningful trips and residential experiences that prepare pupils exceptionally well for life in modern Britain
- Strong teaching of early reading and phonics, with most pupils gaining the knowledge they need to become confident readers
- Caring, close-knit school community where pupils feel safe, supported and happy
- Wide range of clubs and leadership opportunities that build pupils' confidence and independence
- Effective behaviour management with calm, orderly classrooms and a reward system that motivates pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum in some subjects lacks clear sequencing of key knowledge, affecting how well pupils build on prior learning
- Staff do not have sufficient information about pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, limiting how well they can support these pupils in lessons
- Some pupils with additional needs are not receiving adequate support to keep up with their peers
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear systems and an open, positive culture that prioritises pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
Art, Taskmaster, dance, dodgeball, library monitors, school council, camping, residential visits, forest trips, river visits, beach trips, mosque and temple visits
Thwaites School is a small, rural primary school that has improved significantly since its last inspection. It offers a caring environment where pupils feel supported and achieve well, with particular strengths in personal development.
At a Glance
21.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2025/26 academic year
Class Sizes
9.3
Avg class size
10.0
Infant (KS1)
9.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
50%
Available places
28 pupils
56 capacity
28 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Millom
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Millom
Admissions Demand - Cumberland
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(8)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.83407%
Overall absence
6.66667%
Persistent absence
30
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.