Victoria Academy

Victoria Academy is performing exceptionally well, having received an overall effectiveness rating of 'Outstanding' in its recent inspection. This marks a significant advancement from its previous grade of 'Good'. The school excels in providing a nurturing and high-expectation environment for its pupils, who demonstrate resilience, creativity, and a strong sense of happiness and belonging. The strong support for students, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), is noteworthy, as the school has implemented effective strategies to ensure their successful learning alongside peers. Furthermore, the school has taken substantial steps to close knowledge gaps resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to remarkable recovery in academic performance, particularly in reading and mathematics.

Strengths

• Exceptional quality of education across all subjects
• Strong climate for learning fostering respect and courtesy
• Effective support for pupils with SEND
• High levels of punctuality and attendance
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils
• Impressive curriculum design promoting subject knowledge
• Outstanding behavior and attitudes from pupils
• Commitment to staff training and development

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 Victoria Academy attended 96.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 3.4% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Victoria Academy 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 Victoria Academy had 20.9 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, 15.8% of pupils at Victoria Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.4% 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 2024–25 Victoria Academy received £5,832 and spent £5,968 for each of its 201 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £33,000 (£162 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Furness Education Trust, income was £7,887 and spending £7,648 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Barrow-In-Furness · Westmorland and Furness local authority: places and applications

Victoria Academy is part of Furness Education Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Furness Academy Barrow-In-Furness
• Parkside Academy Barrow-In-Furness
• Yarlside Academy Barrow-In-Furness
• Newton Village Academy Barrow-In-Furness
• Walney Academy Barrow-In-Furness
• Lindal and Marton Primary School Ulverston

What is Victoria Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Victoria Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Victoria Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Victoria Academy was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Victoria Academy have?

Victoria Academy has 209 pupils on roll.

What age range does Victoria Academy cover?

Victoria Academy for pupils aged 7 to 11.

What are Victoria Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Victoria Academy?

Victoria Academy is at Devonshire Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5NE.