Compare Hensingham Primary School and Lowca Community School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Q: How are these comparisons built?

We align public datasets side-by-side. Headline Ofsted judgement and publication date are shown when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; free users see rounded values.

Q: What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded Section 8 visits do not replace the last graded judgement. We continue to show the latest graded judgement until a new graded inspection is published.

Q: Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are Pro features. Everyone can still compare approximate values.

Q: How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then consider distance and travel, roll versus capacity, and the admissions policy. Visit the school, ask about pastoral support and enrichment, and ensure it fits your child’s needs.

Q: What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; review capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and look at trust or local authority governance. Read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding details.

Comparison of primary schools: Hensingham Primary School (Primary) in Whitehaven; Lowca Community School (Primary) in Whitehaven; St Mary's Catholic Primary School (Primary) in Whitehaven — covering Ofsted outcomes, size, FSM%, governance, capacity & more.

At a glance

This page compares Hensingham Primary School, Lowca Community School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School. They are primary phase and academy sponsor led, community school and voluntary aided school type located around Whitehaven, Cumbria. The strongest headline Ofsted judgement here is 1 (St Mary's Catholic Primary School), published Mar 2014. The lowest is 2 (Hensingham Primary School), published Jun 2024. The most recent inspection on record is for Lowca Community School (Jun 2024). average roll around ≈ 150, combined total ≈ 400, typical FSM 25–30%, range 25–30%–30–35%; all within the Cumbria Education Trust trust.

🔒 Export (Pro)

Attribute	Hensingham Primary School CA28 8QZ	Lowca Community School CA28 6QS	St Mary's Catholic Primary School CA28 9PG
Phase / Type	Primary • Academy sponsor led	Primary • Community school	Primary • Voluntary aided school
Location	Whitehaven Cumbria CA28 8QZ	Whitehaven Cumbria CA28 6QS	Whitehaven Cumbria CA28 9PG
Latest Ofsted	2 9 Jun 2024	2 23 Jun 2024	1 27 Mar 2014
Ofsted report	—	—	—
Pupils (roll)	≈ 150 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 50 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 200 🔒 Unlock exact pupils
FSM %	25–30% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	30–35% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	25–30% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %
Capacity	210	55	180
Capacity utilisation	Under capacity 🔒 View exact %	Over capacity 🔒 View exact %	Over capacity 🔒 View exact %
Age range	—	—	—
Gender	Mixed	Mixed	Mixed
Admissions policy	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
Trust / Local authority	Cumbria Education Trust	Cumberland (942)	Cumberland (942)
Website	www.hensingham.cumbria.sch.uk	www.lowca.cumbria.sch.uk	www.kells-stmarys.cumbria.sch.uk
Telephone	01946690021	01946372656	0194666356
SEN provision	None reported	None reported	None reported
Profile	View profile	View profile	View profile

Hensingham Primary School

CA28 8QZ

Phase / Type: Primary • Academy sponsor led
Location: Whitehaven
Cumbria
CA28 8QZ
Ofsted: 2 9 Jun 2024
Pupils: ≈ 150 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 25–30% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: Cumbria Education Trust
Website: www.hensingham.cumbria.sch.uk
Telephone: 01946690021

Lowca Community School

CA28 6QS

Phase / Type: Primary • Community school
Location: Whitehaven
Cumbria
CA28 6QS
Ofsted: 2 23 Jun 2024
Pupils: ≈ 50 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 30–35% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: Cumberland (942)
Website: www.lowca.cumbria.sch.uk
Telephone: 01946372656

St Mary's Catholic Primary School

CA28 9PG

Phase / Type: Primary • Voluntary aided school
Location: Whitehaven
Cumbria
CA28 9PG
Ofsted: 1 27 Mar 2014
Pupils: ≈ 200 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 25–30% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: Cumberland (942)
Website: www.kells-stmarys.cumbria.sch.uk
Telephone: 0194666356

Map of compared schools

How are these comparisons built?

We line up public school data side-by-side. Ofsted “headline” judgement is shown with the publication date when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; everyone sees rounded values.

What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded visits (Section 8) check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but do not replace it. We keep the latest graded judgement as the headline until a new graded inspection is published.

Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, we show approximate pupils and bucketed FSM% to free users. Upgrade to AllSchools Pro to unlock precise figures and exports.

How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then check whether it aligns with your child’s needs. Look at distance and travel, typical class sizes (roll vs capacity), and the school’s admissions policy. Speak to the school, arrange a visit, and ask about pastoral support and enrichment.

What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; scan capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and review trust/local authority for governance. If available, read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding detail.