Waberthwaite CofE School

Waberthwaite CofE School has effectively maintained the standards identified during its last inspection, continuing to provide a supportive and encouraging environment for its students. The school remains committed to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), receive the necessary support to thrive both academically and personally. Positive relationships between staff and pupils contribute greatly to a culture of respect and understanding, allowing for a productive learning atmosphere where students feel valued and engaged. While the school excels in many areas, including its ambitious curriculum and supportive teaching practices, there are notable concerns regarding the assessment methods in some subjects, which can hinder clear tracking of pupils' progress. Additionally, the inconsistent implementation of the personal, social, and health education (PSHE) curriculum means that some pupils might not fully grasp key concepts related to British values. Overall, Waberthwaite CofE School is a caring and well-functioning institution that faces challenges typical of a small, rural school community.

Strengths

• Pupils show enthusiasm in lessons and take pride in their work.
• The school provides a broad and ambitious curriculum.
• Strong focus on preparing pupils for life beyond school.
• Effective support systems for students with SEND.
• High attendance rates and quick action to address attendance issues.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment systems in some subjects are overly complex.
• Inconsistent delivery of the PSHE curriculum leading to gaps in knowledge.

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 Waberthwaite CofE School attended 97.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 0.0% 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 Waberthwaite 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 Waberthwaite CofE School had 19.2 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, 19.6% of pupils at Waberthwaite CofE School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.4% 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 Waberthwaite CofE School received £10,115 and spent £9,820 for each of its 56 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £50,000 (£889 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 Millom · Cumberland local authority: places and applications

What is Waberthwaite CofE School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Waberthwaite CofE School is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Waberthwaite CofE School last inspected by Ofsted?

Waberthwaite CofE School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Waberthwaite CofE School have?

Waberthwaite CofE School has 56 pupils on roll.

What age range does Waberthwaite CofE School cover?

Waberthwaite CofE School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 43% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Waberthwaite CofE School?

Waberthwaite CofE School is at Waberthwaite, Millom, Cumbria, LA19 5YJ.