Ofsted: Requires improvement in 3 areasYou're hereSt Bega's CofE Primary School
CA19 1TW · Voluntary Aided School · 16 pupils
- Days missed
- 10.9%
- Pupils per teacher
- 4.7
St Bega's CofE Primary School
- Ofsted: Requires improvement in 3 areas · Jun 2025
- Ages 2 to 11
- Holmrook CA19
- 16 pupils
In short: a primary school with a nursery. Ofsted's June 2025 inspection gave no overall grade and found 3 areas Requires improvement and 2 areas Good.
Good to know
- Strong areas. Ofsted's June 2025 inspection found 2 areas Good.
- Nursery from 2, so younger brothers and sisters can start early.
- Every teacher qualified, with qualified teacher status.
Worth checking
- Weak areas. Ofsted's June 2025 inspection found 3 areas Requires improvement.
- High absence. 1 in 5 children missed a lot of school in 2024-25 (England: 1 in 8).
- Ofsted inspectedJun 2025Areas graded, 1 year ago
- Reception, 20264 of 4first choices got a place
- Free school meals19%Cumberland 20%
- Pupils16Room for 56
- Days missed10.9%
Then and now
Ofsted inspected Jun 2025 · areas graded
Ofsted rated the school Good in 2007. 4 years later it was still Good. Since then Ofsted has inspected it again and graded each area. Since September 2024 Ofsted no longer gives an overall grade.
Every Ofsted visit
Ofsted inspects every state school every few years. Choose a year to see what they found.
Good or better at both graded inspections since 2007.
What Ofsted found in May 2011
- LeadershipGood
- Quality of teachingGood
- Achievement of pupilsGood
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsOutstanding
- Early yearsGood
A shorter visit in May 2016
Ofsted came back for a shorter visit. These visits check whether a school is still as good as its last grade, and don't give a new grade.
Ofsted's verdict: The school is still Good.
Read the 2016 report on OfstedA shorter visit in March 2020
Ofsted came back for a shorter visit. These visits check whether a school is still as good as its last grade, and don't give a new grade.
Ofsted's verdict: The school is still Good.
Read the 2020 report on OfstedWhat Ofsted found in June 2025
- SafeguardingEffective
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- LeadershipRequires improvement
- Early yearsRequires improvement
Other Ofsted documents (1)
Letters and checks that aren't inspections, such as academy conversions, complaints and desk assessments. They don't change the school's grade.
- Interim assessment · 7 May 2014
The four grades, in plain English
- Outstanding
- Much better than the minimum.
- Good
- Meets every standard well.
- Requires improvement
- Not yet good. Ofsted will be back soon.
- Inadequate
- Serious problems that must be fixed.
Getting in
Could your child get a place?
In 2026 every family who put St Bega's first got a place.
11 families applied and 4 were offered Reception places
Families list several schools, so this counts every family who listed it, not only those who put it first. 4 families put it first, and all of them got a place.
Over the last 3 rounds, 10 of 10 families who put it first got a place (100%). Room for 56 suggests about 8 places a year. The exact number is in the school's admissions policy.
Demand has grown by half in 12 years
Applications each year. The black line is how many places were offered. Applications rose from 4 in 2025 to 11.
7
10
6
6
9
10
9
7
5
7
6
4
11
ApplicationsPlaces offered
Who gets a place first
When there are more children than places, most schools give places in an order like this. Check the school's own policy.
- 1Children in care, or who used to be
- 2Children with a brother or sister already at the school
- 3Families of the school's faith, if it's a faith school
Good to know: a place in the nursery doesn't guarantee a Reception place. You still need to apply.
How close do you need to live? Ask the council for Cumberland for the last distance offered. Many councils publish it each year, but there's no national file, so we don't hold it.
If you don't get a place: you can appeal. In Cumberland, 3 of the 7 appeals heard for places from September 2025 succeeded. Across England, 15% did.
Applying for September 2027
These dates are for the next round. The figures above are for children who started in September 2026.
Now
Open days run in the autumn. Ask the school for dates.
15 Jan 2027
Deadline to apply to the council for Cumberland.
16 Apr 2027
Offers day. You'll hear from the council.
Sep 2027
Your child starts Reception.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 11 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
| First choices | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Offers made | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Offers to first choices | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| First choices who got a place | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| England | 92% | 93% | 93% | 93% | 92% | 92% | 90% | 91% | 91% | 90% | 88% | 88% | 88% |
Each year is the September children started. A first choice is a family who put the school first on their form. Offers are those made on national offer day, so later moves aren't counted. They can differ from the school's full number of places, which is in its admissions policy.
Source: DfE, Applications and offers.
Day to day
Life at St Bega's
The average child misses about 21 days a year
That's 10.9% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 5 children (22%) missed at least 1 day in 10, which counts as persistently absent. Cumberland: 10%. England, primary schools: about 13%.
In schoolMissed
No pupils were suspended in 2024/25
Across England, similar schools: 1.1%. No permanent exclusions.
Nursery classFrom age 2.
Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.
Pupils
Who goes to St Bega's
A shrinking school: 26 pupils in 2018, 16 now.
4
2
3
2
3
2
44% girls56% boys
Ethnic background
94% White British · 6% White Other
- 18.8%
Free school meals
Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.
Cumberland20%
- 6.3%
English as an additional language
Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.
Cumberland7.2%
- 31.3%
Special educational needs
Children with special educational needs, with or without an EHC plan.
Main needs recorded (pupils)
- Autism3
- Social, emotional and mental health1
Cumberland18.8%
- 0%
EHC plan
Children with a legal plan for more complex needs (an Education, Health and Care plan).
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 16 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 30 | – | 30 | 26 | – | – | – | – |
| Days missed | – | 10.9% | 8.1% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 4.4% | – | 4% | 3.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% | 3.3% | 4.6% |
| England | 5.2% | 5.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 4% | 4.2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3.9% | ||
| Often absent | – | 22.2% | 29.4% | 27.8% | 27.3% | 4% | – | 4.5% | 0% | 5% | 9.1% | 0% | 9.7% |
| England | 13% | 14.5% | 16.2% | 17.7% | 8.8% | 8.2% | 8.7% | 8.3% | 8.2% | 8.4% | 8% |
Each year is the school year ending that summer, so 2025 means 2024-25. Days missed is the share of school sessions missed for any reason. Often absent is the share of pupils missing at least 1 day in 10.
Source: DfE, school census and pupil absence.
Attendance for 2026 isn't published yet.
2021 attendance was shaped by Covid, so read it with care.
There are no 2020 figures: Covid stopped the attendance count, and we don't hold that year's pupil numbers.
Our pupil numbers start in 2018.
Open day
What to ask when you visit
Based on what the data says about St Bega's. Take this list with you.
- 1“What did Ofsted say on its June 2025 visit?”The Good grade is from 2011. The newer report is the best guide to the school today.
- 2“What are you doing about attendance?”1 in 5 children missed at least 1 day in 10 in 2024-25.
- 3“How will you use the money in reserve?”The school had £15,370 saved at the last count.
- 4“Does a nursery place help with getting into Reception?”In 2026, 11 families applied and 4 were offered places.
- 5“How do you support children who need extra help?”31.3% of pupils have special educational needs here.
Nearby
See all Cumberland primariesOther primary schools nearby
Popular schools fill up, so it's wise to list more than one. Here's how St Bega's compares with its neighbours.
Ofsted: Requires improvement in 3 areasYou're here
Ofsted: GoodGosforth CofE Primary School and Nursery
CA20 1AZ · State · Primary · Ages 2–11
- Met the standard
- 81%
- Days missed
- 3.8%
- Pupils per teacher
- 15.5
Ofsted: GoodWaberthwaite CofE School
LA19 5YJ · State · Primary · Ages 3–11
- Met the standard
- 43%
- Days missed
- 2.5%
- Pupils per teacher
- 19.2
Ofsted: GoodSeascale Primary School
CA20 1LZ · State · Primary · Ages 4–11
- Met the standard
- 55%
- Days missed
- 6.4%
- Pupils per teacher
- 15.3
Keep an eye on St Bega's
We'll email you when there's a new Ofsted report, new results or new admissions figures. Nothing else.
Staff and money
Teachers, and what the school spends
1 teacher for every 5 children
Children per teacher across the whole school, not class size. Cumberland: 18.9. England, primary schools: 20.7. Counting teaching assistants and other support staff, there's 1 adult for every 3 children.
Average class: 5 children.
3.4teachers (full-time equivalent)
2teaching assistants
100%of teachers fully qualified
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 4.7 | 8.2 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 7.6 | 13 | 11.2 | 13.5 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 8.2 | 12.7 | 12.8 |
| England | 20.7 | 20.8 | 20.8 | 20.7 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 20.9 | 20.9 | 20.9 | 20.6 | 20.5 | 20.4 | 20.5 |
| Teachers (full-time) | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| Teaching assistants | 2 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1 | 2 | 1.9 |
| Qualified teachers | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Each year is the November staff count of that school year, so 2025 means 2024-25. Pupils per teacher covers the whole school, not class size. Full-time counts two half-time teachers as one. Qualified means holding qualified teacher status.
Source: DfE, School workforce in England.
£22,540 spent on each child a year
2025 to 2026. Up from £7,291 in 2015. Cumberland: £8,091.
- Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£17,16776%
- Buildings and grounds£1,2325%
- Everything else: books, IT, food, supplies£4,14118%
- Money in
- £22,934
- Spent
- £22,540
These are the school's own accounts. In 2025-26 it took in £6,299 more than it spent (£394 per pupil). Money left over goes into its reserves.
The school had £15,370 saved (£961 per pupil) in 2026. Reserves are for a rainy day, but they're meant to benefit pupils. Worth asking how they'll be used.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spending | £22,540 | £15,230 | £15,746 | £16,114 | £12,865 | £9,886 | £8,767 | £8,951 | £8,799 | £8,910 | £8,570 | £7,291 |
| England | £7,039 | £6,588 | £6,167 | £5,758 | £5,397 | £5,306 | £5,126 | £5,058 | £5,066 | |||
| Income | £22,934 | £15,092 | £13,478 | £15,458 | £14,280 | £10,936 | £8,314 | £9,219 | £9,679 | £8,435 | £8,372 | £7,289 |
| Staff costs | £17,167 | £11,280 | £11,730 | £11,445 | £9,737 | £7,938 | £6,560 | £6,866 | £6,527 | £6,685 | – | – |
| Buildings and grounds | £1,232 | £1,207 | £1,296 | £1,262 | £866 | £384 | £319 | £399 | £335 | £321 | – | – |
| Reserves | £961 | £356 | £547 | £2,877 | £3,383 | £1,541 | £460 | £1,083 | £898 | £18 | £440 | £586 |
Each year is the financial year ending in that year. Per pupil means the year's total divided by the number of pupils. These are day-to-day figures: big building projects aren't counted.
Source: DfE, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool.
The basics
School details
- Ages
- 2 to 11, with nursery
- Type
- Voluntary Aided School
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Size
- 16 pupils, 56 places
- Headteacher
- Ms Phoebe Gray
- Council
- Cumberland
- Address
- Longrigg Lane, Eskdale Green, Holmrook, Cumbria, CA19 1TW
- Phone
- 01946 723259
- Website
- stbegasprimary.co.uk
- School number (URN)
- 112349 · See it on the government register
Questions
Questions parents ask
Is St Bega's CofE Primary School a good school?
Ofsted's June 2025 inspection gave no overall grade and found 3 areas Requires improvement and 2 areas Good. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.
What is St Bega's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted's June 2025 inspection gave no overall grade and found 3 areas Requires improvement and 2 areas Good. The full report on Ofsted's website explains what it does well and what it needs to improve.
How hard is it to get a place?
In 2026, 11 families applied and 4 were offered Reception places, and 4 families put it as their first choice. Every family who put it first got a place that year.
Does St Bega's have a nursery?
Yes, it has a nursery class. A nursery place doesn't guarantee a Reception place, so you still need to apply.
Is it a faith school?
Yes. Its religious character is Church of England. Faith schools can give priority to families of that faith, so check its admissions policy.
Why is absence high?
22% of children missed at least 1 day in 10, which counts as persistently absent. Absence went up across England after Covid. Ask the school what it's doing about it.
Sources: Department for Education school performance tables, school census and workforce, academy accounts, admissions statistics, Ofsted and ISI. Photos are stand-ins. School details and inspections checked against official records on 5 November 2026.