Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School

Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School is a highly effective, happy school where pupils thrive. This was its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was previously judged outstanding. Pupils, including those with SEND, are proud, compassionate and highly motivated, and they benefit from a wide range of activities that build confidence, resilience and active citizenship. Early years children make an exceptionally strong start. The curriculum is broad, ambitious and well sequenced, and reading and phonics are particular strengths. Pupils with SEND are identified accurately and supported effectively. Behaviour and attendance are excellent, personal development is exceptionally strong, and leadership and governance are highly effective. Parents appreciate the strong sense of community, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. There are a few inconsistencies in the quality of education. Sometimes learning activities do not help pupils develop sufficient depth of knowledge, and staff do not always address gaps or misconceptions promptly, meaning some pupils move on before they are ready. The school is well placed to address these points.

Strengths

• Broad, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum
• Exceptional early years provision and strong start for children
• Highly effective phonics and reading support
• Accurate identification and effective support for pupils with SEND
• Outstanding behaviour and exceptionally positive attitudes to learning
• Very good attendance
• Strong personal development and preparation for life in modern Britain
• Highly effective governance and leadership at all levels
• Strong engagement with parents and a clear sense of community
• Wide range of activities that build confidence, resilience and citizenship
• Clear curriculum guidance that supports staff workload

Areas for Improvement

• Some learning activities do not help pupils develop sufficient depth of knowledge.
• Staff occasionally do not address gaps or misconceptions promptly, so some pupils move on before they are ready.

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 Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School attended 97.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 1.6% 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 Bridekirk Dovenby CofE 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 Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School had 23.6 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, 7.5% of pupils at Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.8% 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 Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School received £6,682 and spent £7,101 for each of its 146 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £85,000 (-£584 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 Cockermouth · Cumberland local authority: places and applications

What is Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School have?

Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School has 146 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School cover?

Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School?

Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School is at Dovenby, Cumbria, Bridekirk Dovenby School, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PG.