Ofsted: No Judgement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #92 in Westmorland and Furness public Top 98% UK

St Columba's School

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

person Mrs Claire O'Donnell (Headteacher)

location_onBarrow-in-Furness, LA14 3AD

language Visit Website phone 01229471522

verified

Ofsted

No Judgement

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

204

school

Expected Standard

30%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Columba's School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Barrow-in-Furness, serving ages 3-11. Ranks in the top 98% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Columba's School is a voluntary aided school in Barrow-in-Furness, Westmorland and Furness, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 212 pupils on roll, of whom 8% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 30% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #92 of 98 primaries in Westmorland and Furness and #13,900 of 14,159 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is No Judgement.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 27.0:1. 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

30%

LA 57%

Reading60% LA 72%

Writing60% LA 68%

Maths37% LA 71%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

70%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading80% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing70% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths80% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

75%

LA 61%England 60%

Reading85% LA 78% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 75% · Eng 71%

Maths85% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.2

Read

LA 0.5

-1.5 to 4.0

0.7

Write

LA 0.2

-1.9 to 3.4

1.0

Maths

LA -0.9

-1.6 to 3.6

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

86%

LA 68%England 65%

Reading90% LA 78% · Eng 73%

Writing93% LA 83% · Eng 78%

Maths93% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.0

Read

LA 1.0

-1.3 to 3.2

0.6

Write

LA 0.7

-1.5 to 2.6

1.3

Maths

LA -0.2

-0.6 to 3.3

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

67%

LA 64%

Reading81% LA 79%

Writing93% LA 81%

Maths78% LA 74%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.4

Read

LA 0.4

-2.7 to 1.9

1.7

Write

LA 0.4

-0.5 to 3.9

-0.8

Maths

LA -0.9

-2.9 to 1.3

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Primary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	Attainment	Progress
2025	#13,900 / 14,159	#92	#13,750	#1
2024	#6,742 / 14,233	#34	#4,029	#1
2023	#4,650 / 13,940	#22	#2,279	#4,586
2019	#3,347 / 11,810	#24	#920	#3,923
2018	#6,652 / 10,972	#47	#5,564	#5,612

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 November 2022

Inspection Report

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24 November 2020

Inspection Report

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11 July 2017

Inspection Report

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14 June 2012

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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06 May 2008

Inspection Report

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14 January 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-07-11

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2012-06-14

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2008-05-06

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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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 216 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	216	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	213	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	217	1	0.5%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	219	1	0.5%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	208	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	204	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	204	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	195	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	216	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	215	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	210	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	217	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	220	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	223	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	230	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	230	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	231	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	219	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	220	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	221	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	213	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	213	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	195	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	194	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	197	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	197	0	0.0%	0.5%

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

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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 22 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 16 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 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.

98%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100%Positive

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

15%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree85%

agree13%

disagree2%

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

strongly agree85%

agree15%

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

strongly agree49%

agree13%

strongly disagree4%

not applicable34%

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.

strongly agree70%

agree26%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree81%

agree19%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree83%

agree17%

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

strongly agree83%

agree17%

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

strongly agree74%

agree17%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree74%

agree23%

strongly disagree2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes98%

no2%

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

Expected standard

location_on BARROW-in-FURNESS, LA13 9BY

emoji_events #3 in LA

Kirkby Stephen Primary School

Good

location_on Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4AE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Ghyllside Primary School

Good

location_on Kendal, LA9 4JB

emoji_events #5 in LA

Morland Area CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Penrith, CA10 3AT

emoji_events #6 in LA

Yanwath Primary School

Expected standard

location_on Penrith, CA10 2LA

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Westmorland and Furness arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

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

Morland Area CofE Primary School

Yanwath Primary School