Grayrigg CofE School

Grayrigg CofE School is performing well overall, with an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school fosters an inclusive atmosphere where pupils' unique qualities are celebrated, which contributes to their enthusiasm for learning. Pupils are encouraged to connect their learning with real-world experiences, and they generally exhibit positive behaviors and attitudes towards their education. The exemplary personal development programs and the effective early years provision stand out as notable strengths, providing pupils with rich learning experiences and opportunities for growth. However, some areas need improvement, particularly in the music curriculum and the consistent assessment of foundation subjects to ensure all pupils can build on their previous knowledge effectively.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate a strong passion for learning across various subjects.
• The school promotes a strong sense of respect and cooperation among pupils.
• Leaders and staff prioritize personal development and provide effective support for pupils with SEND.
• The curriculum has been carefully planned in most subjects to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Pupils develop a love of reading and enjoy a wide range of literature.
• Early years provision is well-structured, engaging, and effective in building foundational skills.

Areas for Improvement

• The music curriculum is not planned sequentially, leading to gaps in knowledge.
• Foundation subjects lack rigorous assessment practices to inform future teaching.
• Handwriting and presentation in independent work need higher expectations.

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 Grayrigg CofE School attended 96.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.3% 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, 1.3% of pupils at Grayrigg CofE 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 Grayrigg CofE School had 11.7 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, 29.9% of pupils at Grayrigg CofE School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 7.5% 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 Grayrigg CofE School received £11,928 and spent £11,586 for each of its 67 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £84,000 (£1,250 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 Kendal · Westmorland and Furness local authority: places and applications

What is Grayrigg CofE School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Grayrigg CofE School last inspected by Ofsted?

Grayrigg CofE School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Grayrigg CofE School have?

Grayrigg CofE School has 67 pupils on roll.

What age range does Grayrigg CofE School cover?

Grayrigg CofE School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Grayrigg CofE School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Grayrigg CofE School?

Grayrigg CofE School is at Grayrigg, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9BU.