Heron Hill Primary School
Kendal, LA9 7JH · Westmorland and Furness · primary school
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34th of 108 primary schools in Westmorland and Furness we can score, 121 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 3,383 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.8/10 among them, against 5.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 69.0 · 63 | 40% | 2.51 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 6.0 · 45 | 25% | 1.12 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Heron Hill Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 69.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 6.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in 2022. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.8 out of 10 among them, against 5.6 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join clubs for Lego, den-building, board games, gardening, polytunnel pottering, art in the woods, TTRS, and Maths in the Dark. Sports include tag rugby, cross-country, football, judo, and yoga, alongside dance and choir. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 419 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the curriculum support pupils who do not reach the higher standard? What does a typical day look like for a child joining the after-school club?
What Ofsted said about Heron Hill Primary School
Overview
Heron Hill Primary School continues to be a good school, described as a happy environment where pupils learn, grow, and play together. Leaders maintain high expectations for all pupils from the start of their school life, fostering a culture of respect and inclusion. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with staff effectively supporting pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Pupils feel safe and included, with one noting, ‘It doesn’t matter who you are, you are welcome here’.
- Staff use assessment information well to identify what pupils know, allowing them to build securely on previous learning.
- Leaders are skilled in identifying pupils with SEND and make careful adaptations so they can learn alongside classmates.
- Staff are trained to support early reading, matching books to phonics sounds so pupils can ‘experience success in their early reading’.
- Staff feel supported and valued, with leaders taking workload and well-being into account in decision-making.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, leaders have not made clear all the knowledge pupils need to learn and the order in which to learn it, hampering secure knowledge building.
- The range of books provided for older pupils is limited and does not appeal to some, restricting choice and enjoyment in reading.
- Sometimes pupils fidget or become distracted in lessons where teachers have not selected activities that help pupils to learn well.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with clear procedures in place and staff receiving regular training on what action to take if worried about a pupil’s welfare.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 65% |
| 2023/24 | 55% |
| 2024/25 | 69% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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