Penny Bridge CofE School
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Penny Bridge CofE School is a converter academy in Ulverston for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 123 pupils, 18 more than it has places for. About 6 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 38 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 17% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.
Greenodd, Ulverston, LA12 7RQ01229 861307pennybridge.cumbria.sch.ukMr Graham Carrick headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 10 July 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
12 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 12 | 20 | 11 | 18 | 14 | 22 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 58% | 55% | 91% | 94% | 86% | 95% | 58% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 0% | 27% | 17% | 21% | 23% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 104.0 | 103.0 | 109.0 | 110.0 | 109.0 | 111.0 | 105.2 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 106.0 | 101.0 | 106.0 | 108.0 | 105.0 | 107.0 | 104.1 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 103.0 | 104.0 | 110.0 | 111.0 | 107.0 | 109.0 | 104.5 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 67% | 70% | 100% | 94% | 93% | 95% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 67% | 60% | 100% | 100% | 86% | 95% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 75% | 75% | 91% | 94% | 86% | 95% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +1.6 | +2.7 | +2.8 | +4.7 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -0.7 | +0.7 | -0.7 | +0.9 | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
The school is full, with 17 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have grown by 23% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.
How places were given out for September 2026.
| Entry | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 31 | 15 | – | LA |
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 14.5 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 16.5 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (15), language and communications needs (3), Autistic spectrum disorder (1), Hearing impairment (1), Physical disability (1), emotional and mental health (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 123 | 120 | 119 | 101 | 100 | 101 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 7% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 0% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 15% | 14% | 11% | 9% | 13% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 3.2% | 3.4% | 4.1% | 4.7% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 2.4% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 1.2% | 2.4% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.5% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 3.7% | 1.1% | 8.6% | 8.8% | 3.2% | 0.9% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leven Valley CofE Primary School | Church of England | 2.8 miles | 68 | No overall grade 2024 | 22 | Compare |
| Church Walk CofE Primary School | Church of England | 2.9 miles | 88 | Report card 2026 | 25 | Compare |
| Sir John Barrow School | Council | 3.2 miles | 235 | Outstanding 2023 | 90 | Compare |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston | Academy | 3.5 miles | 155 | Report card 2026 | 80 | Compare |
| Croftlands Infant School | Council | 3.9 miles | 119 | Good 2023 | 50 | Compare |
| Croftlands Junior School | Council | 3.9 miles | 152 | Good 2022 | 13 | Compare |
| Pennington CofE School | Church of England | 4.5 miles | 211 | Good 2020 | 65 | Compare |
| Burlington CofE School | Church of England | 4.9 miles | 76 | Good 2023 | 40 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Penny Bridge CofE School with the 46 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 46 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Penny Bridge CofE School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croftlands Infant School | Council | 3.9 miles | 119 | Good 2023 | 50 | Compare |
| Low Furness CofE Primary School | Church of England | 6.0 miles | 127 | Not inspected | 63 | Compare |
| Holme Primary School | Council | 13.4 miles | 122 | Good 2024 | 83 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 38 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 38% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 13 to 73. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | 0.00 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 12 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 2.2 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | +0.03 | DfE progress measure; 12 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.26 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | well above | +0.13 | 2024/25; 107 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | below | -0.06 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 12 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Penny Bridge CofE School a good school?
It is about average. Penny Bridge CofE School scores 38 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 17% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 13 to 73, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
What is Penny Bridge CofE School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Penny Bridge CofE School good at its last full inspection on 10 July 2024.
How good are Penny Bridge CofE School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 58% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 8% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Penny Bridge CofE School have?
123 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 105 places, so it is 117% full.
Is Penny Bridge CofE School oversubscribed?
Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 17 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.
What is attendance like at Penny Bridge CofE School?
Pupils were in school 96.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 4% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Penny Bridge CofE School?
The average class had 15.8 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Greenodd, Ulverston, LA12 7RQ
- Telephone
- 01229 861307
- Website
- www.pennybridge.cumbria.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mr Graham Carrick
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Carlisle
- Multi-academy trust
- The Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust (13 schools)
- Local authority
- Westmorland and Furness
- Ward
- High Furness
- Constituency
- Barrow and Furness
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 November 2013 (academy converter)
- URN
- 140306 · LAESTAB 9433556 · UKPRN 10043956
- Formerly
- Penny Bridge CofE School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Admissions outcomes: Westmorland and Furness council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.