Kirkoswald CofE School
Kirkoswald, Penrith, CA10 1ENOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Kirkoswald CofE School is a primary school in Penrith for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 160 schools in Westmorland and Furness. It ranks 5th of 18 primary schools in Penrith. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 1 July 2025, report published 18 September 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 1 July 2025
Pupils are proud to attend Kirkoswald CofE Primary School which is the heart of the community. Each morning, staff warmly welcome pupils and their families. The youngest children settle quickly, supported by their parents and carers, as they complete their first activity of the day. The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement. They are encouraged to 'explore, dream and discover - be the best you can be'. Pupils rise to this and achieve well. They leave the school well prepared for secondary school. Pupils are happy, polite and respectful. They move around the school calmly. Older pupils enjoy additional responsibilities such as helping younger pupils on sports day. Pupils are proud to be elected as school councillors. They help to make their school a better place. For example, they choose plants from the local garden centre to help brighten up the school grounds. Pupils benefit from many wider opportunities. They join clubs such as football, art and cricket. This enables pupils to develop further their talents and interests or try something new. Pupils flourish as young citizens. For example, they join in with the 'village coffee' and write to their pen pals in The Gambia. This helps pupils to develop their knowledge of the wider world.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, and in some areas of learning in the early years, the curriculum is not precisely defined or sufficiently well sequenced. As a result, some pupils do not learn the knowledge and skills needed for future learning. The school should ensure that the curriculum in these areas is sufficiently thought out and sequenced to enable pupils to learn and remember more.
- In a few subjects, the school has not identified gaps in some pupils' learning from the previous curriculums. This means that, on occasion, new learning does not build securely on what pupils know and can do. The school should ensure that gaps in prior knowledge are identified and addressed so that pupils can better tackle new learning.
- At times, the school has not ensured that activities are adapted sufficiently for pupils with SEND. This hinders how well some pupils with SEND achieve. The school should ensure that pupils with SEND access the full curriculum and achieve well.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
9 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
48 pupils on roll, with places for 90
Schools near Kirkoswald CofE School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazonby C of E Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Plumpton School | 4 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 45% met the expected standard |
| Armathwaite School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 80% met the expected standard |
| Langwathby CofE Primary School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| High Hesket CofE School | 5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 52% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Headteacher Leigh Andrews
- Phone
- 01768898461
- Address
- Kirkoswald, Penrith, CA10 1EN
- Local authority
- Westmorland and Furness
- URN
- 112253
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.