Lowca Community School
Whitehaven, CA28 6QS · Cumberland · primary school
Check the area around this school
79th of 119 primary schools in Cumberland we can score, 145 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.4/10 against 2,170 of them, against 1.6/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 50.0 · 19 | 40% | 0.76 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Lowca Community School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2024. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join judo, crafts, dancing, and construction clubs. Both a breakfast club and an after-school club are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 51 pupils against a stated capacity of 55. 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 school support pupils to progress from the expected standard to the higher standard? What specific strategies are used to close the gap in reading and writing?
What Ofsted said about Lowca Community School
Overview
Lowca Community School is described as a “small, welcoming school” where pupils feel like they are “part of a family.” The report highlights a “broad and rich curriculum” and strong community links, noting that the school has successfully addressed weaknesses identified in the previous inspection.
Strengths
- Pupils are “happy,” “kind, caring and polite,” and embrace values such as “love, ownership, well-being, collaboration and attitudes to learning.”
- The curriculum is “ambitious” and effectively supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with staff who are “adept at supporting these pupils well.”
- There is a strong focus on reading, with an “effective phonics programme” ensuring pupils become “confident and fluent readers” by the time they leave.
- The school fosters positive personal development through diverse experiences, including clubs, trips, and learning about “world faiths” and “diversity.”
- Attendance is a “high priority,” with “effective action” taken to secure “positive levels of attendance” and address prior issues.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, staff do not select “suitable activities” to help pupils learn the intended curriculum, which “hinders some pupils in developing secure knowledge.”
- The school must ensure teachers have the support needed to “deliver the curriculum consistently well” so that all pupils develop the necessary “depth of knowledge.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 13% |
| 2024/25 | 50% |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of CA28 6QS, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT