Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #82 in Cumberland public Top 95% UK

Valley Primary School and Nursery

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

personMrs Sarah Jardine

location_onWhitehaven, CA28 8DA

language Visit Website phone 1946694152

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

273

school

Expected Standard

36%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Valley Primary School and Nursery is a Community school primary school in Whitehaven, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 95% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Valley Primary School and Nursery is a community school in Whitehaven, Cumberland, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 288 pupils on roll, of whom 42% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 36% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #82 of 111 primaries in Cumberland and #12,562 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Good.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.1:1. 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

36%

LA 55%

Reading39% LA 72%

Writing73% LA 68%

Maths55% LA 68%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 52%England 61%

Reading73% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing76% LA 66% · Eng 72%

Maths52% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

49%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading76% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing59% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths78% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.2

Read

LA -0.4

-3.2 to 0.8

-1.3

Write

LA -0.2

-3.2 to 0.6

-1.5

Maths

LA -1.2

-3.4 to 0.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading74% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing74% LA 79% · Eng 78%

Maths63% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.3

Read

LA 0.2

-0.8 to 3.4

0.3

Write

LA 0.3

-1.6 to 2.2

-2.5

Maths

LA -0.8

-4.3 to -0.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

64%

LA 64%

Reading73% LA 79%

Writing82% LA 79%

Maths76% LA 76%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.1

Read

LA 0.4

0.1 to 4.1

1.8

Write

LA 0.5

-0.2 to 3.8

Maths

LA -0.3

-0.9 to 2.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

06 March 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

27 February 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

03 March 2015

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

05 July 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

23 April 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

09 January 2012

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

06 May 2009

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

11 June 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

27 April 2006

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2019-02-27

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-03-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-04-23

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

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 288 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	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	288	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	286	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	295	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	279	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	271	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	273	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	273	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	262	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	270	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	266	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	256	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	261	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	257	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	246	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	262	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	262	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	250	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	266	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	260	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	243	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	260	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	261	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	251	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	272	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	266	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	264	0.0%	0.5%

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.

Other Difficulty/Disability 23 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 22 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 20 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

Visual 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.

85.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

85.0%Positive

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

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree71%

disagree7%

strongly disagree14%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree79%

agree21%

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

strongly agree29%

agree21%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

not applicable36%

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 agree29%

agree50%

don't know21%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree57%

agree29%

disagree7%

don't know7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree71%

agree7%

disagree21%

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

strongly agree71%

agree29%

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

strongly agree79%

agree21%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree57%

agree29%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes86%

no14%

Top Primary Schools in Cumberland

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Bookwell Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Egremont, CA22 2LT

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Whitehaven, CA28 9PG

emoji_events #2 in LA

St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Workington, CA14 5LN

emoji_events #3 in LA

Beckstone Primary School

Good

location_on Workington, CA14 5PX

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Wigton, CA7 9HZ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Stoneraise School

Good

location_on Carlisle, CA5 7AT

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Cumberland arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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 Cumberland

Bookwell Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Beckstone Primary School

St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School

Stoneraise School