Bookwell Primary School

Bookwell Primary School has been judged as outstanding in all areas during its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic. The school has maintained an exceptional standard of education, with a curriculum that is both broad and ambitious, ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, receive tailored support. Pupils thrive in a positive environment that fosters high expectations and encourages them to contribute actively to both the school and local community. Overall, the school continues to provide a nurturing and enriching educational experience that prepares students exceptionally well for their future endeavors.

Strengths

• Exceptional standards of pupil behavior and attitudes
• Highly effective curriculum tailored to meet individual needs
• Strong emphasis on reading with effective phonics instruction
• Rich personal development opportunities supporting social and emotional growth
• Proactive student involvement in community and charitable activities
• Effective professional development for staff enhancing curriculum delivery
• High levels of attendance and commitment to education

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 Bookwell Primary School attended 96.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.4% 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, 2.1% of pupils at Bookwell Primary 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 Bookwell Primary School had 21.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.6% 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, 10.3% of pupils at Bookwell Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.1% 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 Bookwell Primary School received £6,634 and spent £6,899 for each of its 194 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £18,000 (£92 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 Cumberland · Cumberland local authority: places and applications

What is Bookwell Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bookwell Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Bookwell Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bookwell Primary School was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Bookwell Primary School have?

Bookwell Primary School has 194 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bookwell Primary School cover?

Bookwell Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Bookwell Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bookwell Primary School?

Bookwell Primary School is at Bookwell, Egremont, Cumbria, CA22 2LT.