Richmond Hill School

Richmond Hill School has demonstrated a strong standard of performance with a notable commitment to safeguarding, which is effectively managed by leaders and fosters a safe environment for pupils. The school places a significant emphasis on attendance and behavior, resulting in a calm atmosphere and positive relationships between staff and pupils. While many pupils participate actively in additional development opportunities and the early years curriculum is robust, there are concerns regarding the academic achievement of disadvantaged pupils, particularly in key foundational areas such as spelling and handwriting. Despite the strengths in personal development and a generally effective curriculum design, the report highlights that not all pupils, especially those disadvantaged, are achieving their full potential. Widening gaps in achievement and inconsistencies in teaching methods pose challenges that leaders need to address. Therefore, while pupils enjoy a well-rounded experience at Richmond Hill School, there are areas for improvement, particularly in supporting disadvantaged pupils to attain better academic outcomes.

Strengths

• Effective safeguarding practices create a safe learning environment.
• Strong emphasis on attendance and behavior leads to a calm and orderly school culture.
• Extensive opportunities for personal development through clubs and trips.
• Early years curriculum is well-structured, promoting language acquisition and engagement.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils enhance the learning experience.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils, particularly disadvantaged, do not achieve as well as they should.
• The gap between the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and their peers is widening.
• Teaching does not consistently check prior knowledge, leading to gaps in understanding.
• Inconsistencies in the effectiveness of teaching methods affect learning outcomes for some pupils.
• Leaders have not adequately addressed priority areas for improvement.

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 Richmond Hill School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.2% 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, 2.0% of pupils at Richmond Hill School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was 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 Richmond Hill School had 19.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.5% 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, 12.2% of pupils at Richmond Hill School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.5% 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 Richmond Hill School received £7,511 and spent £7,359 for each of its 187 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £71,000 (£379 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 Richmond Hill School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Richmond Hill School is Needs attention, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Richmond Hill School last inspected by Ofsted?

Richmond Hill School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Richmond Hill School have?

Richmond Hill School has 205 pupils on roll.

What age range does Richmond Hill School cover?

Richmond Hill School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Richmond Hill School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Richmond Hill School?

Richmond Hill School is at Queen Street, Aspatria, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 3BQ.