Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #76 in Westmorland and Furness public Top 84% UK

St Thomas's CofE Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Maggie Cole

location_onKendal, LA9 5PP

language Visit Website phone 1539737373

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

227

school

Expected Standard

48%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Thomas's CofE Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Kendal, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 84% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

St Thomas's CofE Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Kendal, Westmorland and Furness, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 242 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 48% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #76 of 97 primaries in Westmorland and Furness and #12,725 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 28.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

48%

LA 57%

Reading65% LA 72%

Writing65% LA 68%

Maths77% LA 71%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading91% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing74% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths83% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

62%

LA 61%England 60%

Reading79% LA 78% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 75% · Eng 71%

Maths72% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA 0.5

-3.7 to 0.8

0.5

Write

LA 0.2

-1.7 to 2.7

-1.7

Maths

LA -0.9

-3.9 to 0.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

62%

LA 68%England 65%

Reading69% LA 78% · Eng 73%

Writing77% LA 83% · Eng 78%

Maths65% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.9

Read

LA 1.0

-3.4 to 1.5

0.8

Write

LA 0.7

-1.5 to 3.1

-2.9

Maths

LA -0.2

-5.1 to -0.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 64%

Reading84% LA 79%

Writing81% LA 81%

Maths81% LA 74%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.2

Read

LA 0.4

-1.9 to 2.3

-0.1

Write

LA 0.4

-2.2 to 2

-0.5

Maths

LA -0.9

-2.4 to 1.4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

24 September 2024

Inspection Report

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21 October 2020

Inspection Report

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24 April 2019

Inspection Report

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13 December 2016

Inspection Report

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23 April 2015

Inspection Report

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26 November 2014

Inspection Report

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15 January 2013

Inspection Report

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22 June 2010

Inspection Report

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12 March 2008

Inspection Report

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21 November 2007

Inspection Report

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09 July 2007

Inspection Report

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06 March 2007

Inspection Report

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05 November 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-09-24

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2019-04-24

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2016-12-13

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-11-26

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 242 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	242	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	230	0	0.0%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	233	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	222	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	210	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	227	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	227	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	218	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	219	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	216	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	210	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	213	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	202	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	201	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	193	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	193	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	190	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	184	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	182	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	179	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	184	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	180	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	178	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	194	2	1.0%	0.4%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	193	2	1.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	196	1	0.5%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 15 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree50%

agree46%

disagree4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree63%

agree37%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree37%

agree30%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

not applicable24%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes28%

no72%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree40%

agree47%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree41%

agree48%

disagree2%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree44%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree50%

agree43%

disagree6%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree57%

agree43%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree41%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree56%

agree31%

disagree7%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes93%

no7%

Top Primary Schools in Westmorland and Furness

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Sir John Barrow School

Outstanding

location_on Ulverston, LA12 0BD

emoji_events #1 in LA

Parkside Academy

Good

location_on BARROW-in-FURNESS, LA13 9BY

emoji_events #2 in LA

Kirkby Stephen Primary School

Good

location_on Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4AE

emoji_events #3 in LA

Ghyllside Primary School

Good

location_on Kendal, LA9 4JB

emoji_events #4 in LA

Yanwath Primary School

Good

location_on Penrith, CA10 2LA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Morland Area CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Penrith, CA10 3AT

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Westmorland and Furness arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Westmorland and Furness

Sir John Barrow School

Parkside Academy

Kirkby Stephen Primary School

Ghyllside Primary School

Yanwath Primary School

Morland Area CofE Primary School