Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School
Dovenby, Cumbria, Bridekirk Dovenby School, Cockermouth, CA13 0PGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School is a primary school in Cockermouth for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 178 schools in Cumberland. It ranks 3rd of 111 primary schools in Cumberland. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 21 January 2025, report published 2 March 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 21 January 2025
Pupils thrive here. They are proud ambassadors for their school. They exhibit the compassion and exceptional manners that are modelled by staff. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), consistently rise to and realise the high aspirations that the school has for their achievement and conduct. They extend a warm welcome to new arrivals at the school. Pupils are happy here. In early years, children make an exceptionally strong start to their time at the school. The interactions that they have with staff and fellow 'buddies' contribute strongly to their early development. Throughout the school, pupils are highly motivated by their learning. The impressive range of activities on offer helps pupils to become confident, resilient and courageous young people. For example, as 'News Hounds', pupils produce the school newsletter and as sports leaders they run lunchtime activities. Pupils relish opportunities to take an active role in the life of the school and local community. They organise whole school events, volunteer, raise money for charity and give speeches to educate their peers. For example, about how to care for the earth and sustainability. Trips to places of worship, the theatre and residential city visits enhance pupils' understanding of the world considerably.
What the school should improve
- Sometimes, staff design activities that do not help pupils to develop sufficient depth of knowledge in the subjects that they study. This prevents some pupils from achieving as well as they could. The school should ensure that it supports staff to design learning activities that consistently prepare pupils well for each stage of their education.
- On occasion, staff do not rectify gaps and misconceptions in some pupils' knowledge promptly. This means that some pupils move on to new learning before they are ready. The school should ensure that staff address pupils' misunderstandings in a timely manner so that pupils build their knowledge securely over time.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
15 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
146 pupils on roll, with places for 150
Schools near Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 83% met the expected standard |
| All Saints' CofE School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Inadequate to good | Not published |
| Broughton Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
| St Bridget's CofE School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 47% met the expected standard |
| Dearham Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 58% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Julia Fish
- Phone
- 01900829889
- Address
- Dovenby, Cumbria, Bridekirk Dovenby School, Cockermouth, CA13 0PG
- Local authority
- Cumberland
- URN
- 112270
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.