Croftlands Junior School

Croftlands Junior School serves pupils from Year 3 to Year 6, and the school’s identity is shaped by two things that come through consistently in its published information: a clear values language and a strong emphasis on learning beyond the desk. The front-and-centre message is “Together we Nurture” followed by six named values, and that theme is reinforced through practical choices such as Forest School in the school’s own wooded area and a structured approach to daily activity (including the Daily Mile).

Academic outcomes in the latest published Key Stage 2 data sit below the stronger end of the national picture on the combined expected standard measure, with 50% meeting the reading, writing and mathematics benchmark in the 2025 dataset. This is not a results headline story; instead, the proposition is an organised junior phase with strong routines, outdoor learning, and a broad menu of clubs, including Lego League, choir, mindfulness, and sport.

Leadership is clear and visible: the headteacher listed for the school is Miss L Mahon, and the senior leadership team is published on the school website.

The school’s tone is practical and child-centred. Its published vision makes a direct link between wellbeing and learning, and it names the personal qualities it wants pupils to develop, including curiosity, creativity, compassion, resilience, and respect. That matters for families choosing a junior school, because children often arrive in Year 3 needing to reset after a big transition from infant settings, and a consistent language around behaviour and relationships can help that settling-in period.

Outdoor learning is not treated as an occasional add-on. Forest School is described as running throughout the year, whatever the weather, led by a trained practitioner (Miss Hodgson), using the school’s wooded area at the end of the playing field. The practical implication for parents is that this is likely to suit pupils who learn well through doing, exploring, and collaborating, especially those who benefit from purposeful movement and hands-on tasks alongside classroom teaching.

Play is given unusually explicit status for a junior school. The school has adopted OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) and frames play as a right, with an inclusion angle, aiming to make the playground work for every child. In day-to-day terms, that can translate into calmer lunchtimes for some pupils, more varied social groups, and structured support for children who find unstructured time difficult.

On governance and structure, Croftlands Junior is a separate junior school rather than an all-through primary. It was created in 1974 when the previous primary school was split into infant and junior schools, and it shares a site with Croftlands Infant School. For families already in the Croftlands system, that can make the Year 3 move feel more like a planned step than a fresh start, with familiarity of location and routines.

Croftlands Junior School’s most recent Key Stage 2 outcomes, as presented in the FindMySchool results, indicate that 50% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined.

At the higher standard, 0% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics combined in the 2025 dataset. That points to a cohort where the immediate priority is securing the expected standard consistently across the group.

In FindMySchool’s proprietary rankings based on official data, the school is ranked 12,954th of 14,978 in England for overall primary outcomes and 8th in the Ulverston local area. This places it below the national midpoint on the broader ranking measure.

The school website confirms that Ofsted inspected the school in September 2022 and concluded it remained Good.

The curriculum offer is presented with a strong emphasis on sequencing and breadth. Ofsted’s September 2022 inspection report describes the curriculum as generally well organised and delivered in a logical order, with leaders determined that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and or disabilities, achieve their best. This points to a school that prioritises clear planning and inclusive classroom practice rather than relying on informal or ad hoc approaches.

Two choices stand out as practical signals of how learning is framed. First, Forest School is described as a regular feature, with the intent to develop teamwork, emotional and social skills through achievable tasks in woodland. Second, the school day timetable includes a Daily Mile slot, which indicates that movement is integrated into the rhythm of learning, not left only to PE lessons. For many children in Key Stage 2, that kind of structure can support attention and self-regulation across the afternoon, particularly after lunch.

Language learning is also visible in the leadership roles listed on the school website, where Spanish is named among subject leadership responsibilities within the senior team.

Because this is a junior school, the key transition point is into Year 7. The school’s published admissions information indicates that most pupils entering Year 3 come from Croftlands Infant School and that the schools work closely to support transition, which implies that pupils typically remain within the local area and then progress into local secondary provision.

Remember that secondary transfer depends on home address, admissions criteria, and cohort demand in the year you apply. Families who are thinking ahead to Year 7 should treat the junior phase as an opportunity to build consistent reading, writing and maths foundations, and to use the broad extracurricular mix to develop confidence and interests that carry into secondary school choices.

Year 3 entry is coordinated by Westmorland and Furness Council, not handled as a school-managed selective process. For September 2027 transfer, the coordinated admissions scheme gives the application deadline as 15 January 2027, with outcomes issued on 16 April 2027.

The school itself highlights that nearly all Year 3 entrants come from Croftlands Infant School, and that there is an Open Afternoon in the summer term for children and families. It also notes that families are welcome to visit by appointment when considering the school. Where open events are listed for a previous year, it is safest to assume the pattern repeats annually and check the school’s latest calendar or contact the school for current dates.

For this school does not include a recent “furthest distance at which a place was offered” figure, so parents should rely on the local authority’s published admissions guidance for the relevant year and use precise home address checks when ranking preferences.

Several published signals point to a school that takes routines and safeguarding seriously. The senior leadership listing identifies the headteacher as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, and the school’s attendance information describes proactive follow-up on unexplained absences, which is a key safeguarding behaviour in practice.

On day-to-day wellbeing, the OPAL approach frames inclusive play as part of the school’s wellbeing strategy, and the daily timetable includes structured communal moments such as whole-school assembly. These are the kinds of choices that can support belonging, especially for pupils who are new to the school mid-year or who find friendships tricky without adult scaffolding.

Croftlands Junior School publishes a detailed list of extracurricular activities, and it is more varied than many junior-phase schools. The list includes Lego League, STEM, film club, book club, choir, mindfulness, construction, and a wide spread of sport options such as tag rugby, hockey, cricket, football, netball, and gymnastics. Some clubs run all year, while others run for a half-term or a term, and the school notes that where external providers are used, there may be a charge, with support available for families who need it.

Two specific elements are worth calling out because they have clear implications for pupil development:

• Lego League and STEM: these activities tend to reward iteration, teamwork, and problem-solving. For pupils who enjoy practical challenge, this can become a genuine “hook” that improves confidence in maths and computing related learning.

• Choir and film club: these provide lower-barrier routes into performance and creativity. For children who are not drawn to competitive sport, that matters, because it gives alternative ways to belong and to be recognised.

Wraparound care is also explicit. The school offers breakfast and after-school club every day, staffed by school staff, with activities including cooking, crafts, ball games and construction toys. The published cost is £5 per hour.

The school day is clearly published: registration begins at 8:55am, lessons start at 9:00am, and the school day ends at 3:25pm. The timetable includes break, lunch, and a Daily Mile slot.

Wraparound care is available via breakfast and after-school club, and the school publishes pricing and a description of activities.

For transport planning, the most practical approach is to review the local authority’s junior transfer guidance for your specific address and consider walking routes and drop-off logistics early, particularly if you have children at both the infant and junior schools on the shared site.

• Results profile. The combined expected standard figure in reading, writing and maths sits below the England average. Families with a strongly academic priority may want to discuss how the school targets core skills for pupils who need additional support.

• Junior-only structure. Moving schools at Year 3 is a real transition for children. Many pupils come from Croftlands Infant School, which helps, but pupils joining from elsewhere should ask how induction and friendship support works in the first half-term.

• Clubs can carry costs. The school notes that some activities use external providers and may involve a charge, although support is available. If affordability is a concern, it is sensible to ask early which clubs are free and which are paid.

• Open events timing. The school refers to an Open Afternoon in the summer term, but exact dates vary year to year. Families should check the latest school calendar or arrange a visit by appointment rather than relying on historic timings.

Croftlands Junior School is best understood as a values-led junior school where outdoor learning and structured routines are central, with Forest School, OPAL, and a broad clubs programme providing much of the school’s day-to-day character. Ofsted’s most recent inspection in September 2022 confirmed that the school remained Good.

It suits pupils who will benefit from a consistent wellbeing-and-learning message, plenty of hands-on activity, and varied extracurricular options beyond sport alone. Families seeking the strongest possible headline attainment outcomes may want to dig deeper into how the school supports children to meet expected standards in core subjects, and what progress looks like across Years 3 to 6.