Parkside Academy is a mainstream primary school in BARROW-in-FURNESS, Westmorland and Furness, for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 40 of its 272 pupils (14.7%) were getting SEN support and 16 (5.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 272 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Westmorland and Furness.
14.7% get SEN support
40 of 272 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.9% have an EHC plan
16 of 272 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health22
- Speech, language and communication19
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia7
- Moderate learning difficulty6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 272 (places for 300)
- Headteacher
- Mr Anthony Costa
- Part of
- Furness Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 32.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Westmorland and Furness
- School reference (URN)
- 142249
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Westmorland and Furness council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, January 2026: Strong standard in 4 of 7 areas
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Greengate Street, BARROW-in-FURNESS, LA13 9BY
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Greengate Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.3 miles
- Vickerstown School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.6 miles
- George Hastwell School Special Academy Special school · Ages 3–19 2.0 miles
- Sandside Lodge School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 7.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Furness Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 11%, EHC plans 6.3% 0.3 miles
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Barrow Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 13.4%, EHC plans 8.9% 0.3 miles
- Cambridge Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 32.6%, EHC plans 10.4% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Westmorland and Furness SEND schools in Westmorland and Furness
Questions about Parkside Academy
How many pupils at Parkside Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 40 of the 272 pupils (14.7%) were getting SEN support and 16 (5.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Parkside Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (22 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (19 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Parkside Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Parkside Academy?
Through Westmorland and Furness council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Parkside Academy?
You can ask for Parkside Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Parkside Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Greengate Junior School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Parkside Academy?
Greengate Street, BARROW-in-FURNESS, LA13 9BY, in Westmorland and Furness.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.