Blennerhasset School

Blennerhasset School continues to perform well, maintaining its status as a good educational institution. The school is characterized by strong relationships among pupils and staff, promoting a culture of kindness and safety. With a broad and ambitious curriculum that supports both academic achievement and personal development, pupils are encouraged to excel in various areas. Notably, the strong emphasis on reading and the successful phonics program contribute to pupils' confidence and fluency in literacy. Furthermore, a wide range of extracurricular activities helps develop teamwork and social skills among students. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in ensuring that teachers effectively address and rectify pupils' misconceptions across all subjects. While the school's staff are dedicated and support pupils with SEND, the need to enhance teachers' training in identifying knowledge gaps is essential to secure a stronger foundation for all learners. Overall, the school's leadership is committed to fostering a positive and enriching environment for its pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and valued in a supportive environment.
• High expectations from leaders inspire pupils to achieve well.
• Effective phonics curriculum helping pupils to become confident readers.
• Broad curriculum designed to reflect local history and culture.
• Strong extracurricular program that enhances personal development.

Areas for Improvement

• Some teachers do not effectively identify and address pupils' misconceptions.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Blennerhasset School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Blennerhasset School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Blennerhasset School had 11.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 6.7% of pupils at Blennerhasset School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Blennerhasset School received £10,265 and spent £11,388 for each of its 60 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £100,000 (-£1,667 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Wigton · Cumberland local authority: places and applications

What is Blennerhasset School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Blennerhasset School is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was Blennerhasset School last inspected by Ofsted?

Blennerhasset School was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does Blennerhasset School have?

Blennerhasset School has 60 pupils on roll.

What age range does Blennerhasset School cover?

Blennerhasset School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Blennerhasset School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 29% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Blennerhasset School?

Blennerhasset School is at Blennerhasset, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 3RL.