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Schools in Cumberland

A council (local authority) in the North West

  • Council
  • 244 schools and nurseries
  • 39,002 pupils
  • 10 towns and villages

In short: Most primary schools here are rated Good or better, about the same as across England. Results at 11 are below England, and results at 16 were below England in 2026. Fewer pupils miss a lot of school than across England.

Three children with backpacks crossing a street
A red-brick school building under a blue sky
10 towns

Cumberland at a glance

Strong attendance, weaker results at 11

How Cumberland's schools compare with England, area by area.

DfE and Ofsted data, 2014 to 2026How we work this out
  • Schools and nurseries244145 primary · 19 secondary · 70 nurseries
  • Primaries Good or better97%England 96%
  • Met the standard at 1156%England 62%
  • Grade 5 in English and maths34%Attainment 8 40.8, England 46.2
  • Free school meals, primary21%A sign of family income
  • Missed a lot of school16%England 18%
Top-rated

The highest-rated schools in Cumberland

Primary and secondary schools are ranked by Eduscope score, which weighs up results, inspections, attendance and more. Nurseries, special and independent schools aren't ranked. A high score isn't everything: always visit.

All Cumberland primary schools

Top Primary Schools in Cumberland

145 mainstream schools in Cumberland, best first

Bookwell Primary School

Egremont, CA22 2LT · State · Primary · Ages 4 to 11

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results well above the England average.

27 first choices, 28 offers made

Met the standard at 1180%

England 62%

Days missed
3.4%
Pupils
194
Pupils per teacher
21.3
View school Bookwell Primary School

Lanercost CofE Primary School

Brampton, CA8 2HL · State · Primary · Ages 3 to 11

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results well above the England average.

12 first choices, 12 offers made

Met the standard at 1182%

England 62%

Days missed
2.9%
Pupils
84
Pupils per teacher
17.6
View school Lanercost CofE Primary School
See all 153 primary schools

Top Secondary Schools in Cumberland

19 mainstream schools in Cumberland, best first

Keswick School

Keswick, CA12 5QB · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results above the England average.

199 first choices, 200 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1650.9

England 46.2

Days missed
6.5%
Pupils
1,208
Pupils per teacher
18.2
View school Keswick School

Cockermouth School

Cockermouth, CA13 9HF · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Results close to the England average.

172 first choices, 175 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1647.9

England 46.2

Days missed
9.0%
Pupils
1,254
Pupils per teacher
18.2
View school Cockermouth School

The Nelson Thomlinson School

Wigton, CA7 9PX · State · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Results below the England average.

163 first choices, 170 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1643.1

England 46.2

Days missed
9.1%
Pupils
1,095
Pupils per teacher
15.4
View school The Nelson Thomlinson School
See all 29 secondary schools

Nurseries in Cumberland

70 in Cumberland, highest Ofsted grade first

See all 70 nurseries

Sixth Forms in Cumberland

21 in Cumberland, by the school's Eduscope score

Keswick School

Keswick, CA12 5QB · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results above the England average.

199 first choices, 200 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1650.9

England 46.2

Days missed
6.5%
Pupils
1,208
Pupils per teacher
18.2
View school Keswick School

Cockermouth School

Cockermouth, CA13 9HF · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Results close to the England average.

172 first choices, 175 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1647.9

England 46.2

Days missed
9.0%
Pupils
1,254
Pupils per teacher
18.2
View school Cockermouth School

The Nelson Thomlinson School

Wigton, CA7 9PX · State · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Results below the England average.

163 first choices, 170 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1643.1

England 46.2

Days missed
9.1%
Pupils
1,095
Pupils per teacher
15.4
View school The Nelson Thomlinson School
See all 21 sixth forms

Special Schools in Cumberland

6 in Cumberland. Eduscope doesn't rank these.

James Rennie School

Carlisle, CA3 0BU · Academy · All-through · Ages 3 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
8.6%
Pupils
217
Pupils per teacher
6.6
View school James Rennie School

Mayfield School

Whitehaven, CA28 8UG · Special · All-through · Ages 3 to 19

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
8.2%
Pupils
274
Pupils per teacher
7.7
View school Mayfield School

Kirby Moor School

Brampton, CA8 2AB · Independent · All-through · Ages 7 to 18 · Boys

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
63
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Kirby Moor School
See all 6 special schools

Private Schools in Cumberland

5 in Cumberland. Eduscope doesn't rank these.

Kirby Moor School

Brampton, CA8 2AB · Independent · All-through · Ages 7 to 18 · Boys

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
63
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Kirby Moor School

Progress Schools - Carlisle

Carlisle, CA1 1EJ · Independent · Secondary · Ages 13 to 16

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
9
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Progress Schools - Carlisle

St Bees School

Ca27 0ds · Independent · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • ISI:Inspected

Independent school. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
96
Pupils per teacher
–
View school St Bees School
See all 5 private schools
The map

Every school in Cumberland, on one map

Each dot is a school or nursery, coloured by its latest Ofsted grade. Point at a dot to see its name, or use the list.

See them as a list
Show
Cleator Moor Nursery School, Expected standard or betterFrizington Nursery School, GoodParkview Nursery School, GoodGillford Centre, GoodWest Cumbria Learning Centre, Expected standard in every areaAllonby Primary School, GoodBewcastle School, GoodBlennerhasset School, GoodBurgh by Sands School, GoodCummersdale School, Expected standard or betterCumwhinton School, GoodGreat Orton Primary School, GoodHolme St Cuthbert School, GoodIrthington Village School, GoodKirkbride Primary School, GoodStoneraise School, Expected standard or betterThursby Primary School, GoodThomlinson Junior School, Good in every areaWigton Nursery and Infant School, GoodRichmond Hill School, Needs attention in 4 areasBroughton Moor Primary School, Requires improvementGrasslot Infant School, GoodEwanrigg Junior School, Requires improvement in 2 areasOughterside Primary School, GoodNetherton Infant School, GoodVictoria Infant and Nursery School, Good in every areaVictoria Junior School, Requires improvement in 2 areasSt Michael's Nursery and Infant School, GoodAshfield Infant & Nursery School, Needs attention in 4 areasAshfield Junior School, Requires improvementBookwell Primary School, OutstandingFrizington Community Primary School, GoodHaverigg Primary School, GoodLowca Community School, GoodMillom Infant School, Urgent improvement in 2 areasBlack Combe Junior School, Requires improvementMoor Row Community Primary School, GoodMoresby Primary School, GoodSeascale Primary School, GoodThwaites School, Good or betterBransty Primary School, GoodKells Infant School, Good or betterMonkwray Junior School, GoodJericho Primary School, GoodInglewood Infant School, GoodInglewood Junior School, Needs attention in 3 areasNorman Street Primary School, GoodNewlaithes Junior School, GoodNewlaithes Infant School, GoodKingmoor Junior School, Needs attention in 2 areasBelle Vue Primary School, Good in every areaKingmoor Nursery and Infant School, GoodBrook Street Primary School, Needs attention in 2 areasSilloth Primary School, Needs attention in 3 areasFellview Primary School, Good or betterDerwent Vale Primary and Nursery School, GoodRobert Ferguson Primary School, GoodUpperby Primary School, GoodBoltons CofE School, Good in every areaSt Michael's CofE Primary School, GoodHolm Cultram Abbey CofE Primary School, GoodHoughton CofE School, Needs attention in 1 areaIreby CofE School, GoodKirkbampton CofE School, GoodLanercost CofE Primary School, OutstandingWalton & Lees Hill CofE School, Good in every areaRaughton Head CofE School & Nursery, GoodRockcliffe CofE School, GoodShankhill CofE Primary School, GoodBridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School, Good or betterSt Bridget's CofE School, GoodAll Saints' CofE School, Inadequate in 3 areasMaryport CofE Primary School, GoodCrosscanonby St John's CofE School, GoodPlumbland CofE School, Needs attention in 4 areasSeaton St. Paul's CofE Junior School, GoodCaptain Shaw's CofE School, GoodEnnerdale and Kinniside CofE Primary School, Expected standard or betterGosforth CofE Primary School and Nursery, GoodSt Bridget's CofE School, Expected standard or betterSt James' CofE Junior School, Expected standard or betterSt James' CofE Infant and Nursery School, GoodBlackford CofE Primary School, Good in every areaRosley CofE School, GoodSt Matthew's CofE School, GoodWiggonby CofE School, GoodSt Michael's CofE Primary School, GoodBorrowdale CofE Primary School, GoodSt Mary's Catholic Primary School, GoodSt Patrick's Catholic Primary School, GoodBeckermet CofE School, GoodSt Bridget's Catholic Primary School, GoodSt Bega's CofE Primary School, Requires improvement in 3 areasSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School, GoodSt James' Catholic Primary School, GoodWaberthwaite CofE School, GoodSt Mary's Catholic Primary School, Good or betterSt Begh's Catholic Junior School, GoodSt Gregory and St Patrick's Catholic Infant School, GoodSt Bede's Catholic Primary School, Requires improvement in 1 areaBeacon Hill Community School, Requires improvement in 2 areasSolway Community School, Good in every areaNetherhall School, Requires improvement in 3 areasMillom School, Needs attention in 1 areaSt Benedict's Catholic High School, GoodThe Nelson Thomlinson School, GoodSt John Henry Newman Catholic School, GoodScotby CofE Primary School, Expected standard in every areaHayton CofE Primary School, Outstanding in every areaWarwick Bridge Primary School, GoodBrampton Primary School, GoodBowness-on-Solway Primary School, GoodHallbankgate Village School, GoodFir Ends Primary School, GoodAustin Friars, InspectedMayfield School, OutstandingPennine Way Primary School, GoodOrgill Primary School, Needs attention in 1 areaMontreal CofE Primary School, GoodSt Patrick's Catholic Primary School, GoodDistington Community School, GoodWestfield Nursery and Primary School, GoodThe Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided), GoodValley Primary School and Nursery, GoodBeckstone Primary School, GoodSt Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School, GoodKirby Moor School, GoodProgress Schools - Carlisle, GoodRichard Rose Morton Academy, Good in every areaRichard Rose Central Academy, Good in every areaWest Lakes Academy, Inadequate in 2 areasSeaton Academy, Expected standard or betterEaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy, GoodKeswick School, OutstandingWilliam Howard School, GoodCaldew School, GoodTrinity School, Good in every areaBroughton Primary School, GoodDearham Primary School, Good in every areaCastle Carrock School, GoodGreat Corby School and Nursery, GoodGilsland CofE Primary School, GoodCrosby-on-Eden CofE School, GoodEnergy Coast UTC, GoodWorkington Academy, GoodStanwix School, GoodYewdale School, GoodBraithwaite CofE Primary School, GoodFairfield Primary School, GoodCockermouth School, GoodLongtown Primary School, GoodNorthside Primary School, GoodBranthwaite Academy, Requires improvement in 3 areasLorton School, GoodSt Bees School, InspectedBassenthwaite Primary School, Expected standard or betterJames Rennie School, OutstandingFlimby Primary School, GoodThe Whitehaven Academy, GoodDean CofE School, GoodCaldew Lea School, GoodArlecdon Primary School, GoodThornhill Primary School, GoodWreay Church of England Primary School, GoodHensingham Primary School, GoodNewtown Primary School, Good or betterKirkland Church of England Academy, GoodSt Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle, GoodSt Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle, Inadequate in 3 areasSt Josephs Catholic High School, Workington, Needs attention in 2 areasEllenborough Academy, GoodSt Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Workington, GoodOur Lady and St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Maryport, Good in every areaPetteril Bank School, Expected standard or betterSt Bees Village Primary School, Expected standard or betterSt Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, GoodOld WindebroweMunchkins Nursery, Needs attention in 1 areaMother Goose Day Nursery, GoodStepping Stones Day Nursery, GoodThe Manor Preschool Nursery, GoodWetheral Playschool, GoodHoughton Nursery Group, GoodJack and Jill Nursery Limited, GoodAbbeytown Pre-School Playgroup, GoodPJ's Nursery, GoodLittle Stars (Workington) Limited, GoodAbacus Children's Day Nursery, OutstandingBusy Bees Day Nursery, GoodMary Platt Methodist Pre-School, GoodDiscovery Childcare, GoodYewkids Nursery at Yewdale Community Centre, OutstandingRainbow Nursery, GoodStanwix Community Pre-School, GoodToddler Town Nursery Ltd, GoodHappy Hours Private Day Nursery, GoodWillow Tree Nursery, GoodStone Eden Nursery School Limited, GoodBlh Childcare Unit, GoodRosehill Day Nursery, OutstandingHome from Home Nursery, GoodPear Tree Nursery, GoodParkfield Nursery, OutstandingPlayroom Day Nursery, GoodFootsteps Nursery, GoodHowgill Family Centre, GoodHappy Hours Private Day Nursery, GoodGreystone Nursery, GoodJelly Tots, GoodScotby Pre-School, GoodABC Day Nursery, GoodHaverigg Nursery & The Clubbers, GoodNewtown Road Day Nursery, GoodStrawberry How Nursery School, GoodLittle Owls Nursery (Carlisle) Limited, GoodCrosby Nursery, GoodBallyhoo Boutique Nursery, GoodLittle Monkeys Day Nursery, OutstandingFirst Friends Nursery and Pre-School, GoodMayo Kindergarten, GoodNewtown Community Learning Center t/a First Steps Day Nursery, GoodIt Takes A Village Nursery And Pre-SchoolPlumbland Pre School Playgroup, GoodWendy House Nursery (Carlisle) Limited, Requires improvementMessyhands Childcare, GoodLittle Learners Nursery and Beach School, GoodBeckermet Nursery CIO, Expected standard or betterLittle Explorers, GoodMillom Stepping Stones, GoodSt Michael's Pre-School Nursery, OutstandingKinder Park Nursery Services Limited, OutstandingSure Start Children's Centre, GoodPoppies Child Care (Cumbria) Ltd, GoodLowmoor Nursery, GoodWestnewton Pre School, OutstandingLittle Jems Nursery, GoodLowmoor BecksideLittle Explorers WhitehavenHowGill Centre Nursery, Expected standard in every areaCherry Tree Nursery, Needs attention in 2 areasLearning Land NurseryFrizington Nursery School, GoodGosforth C of E Primary School and Nursery
  • Outstanding13
  • Good161
  • Requires improvement4
  • Not graded yet65
Your council

How school places work in Cumberland

Apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council's area. Independent schools take applications directly.

About Cumberland

Cumberland is a unitary authority in the North West with 145 mainstream primary schools and 19 mainstream secondary schools. Towns with the most schools include Carlisle, Whitehaven and Workington. Most families get the secondary school they want: 95.3% got their first choice, against 83.6% across England. The council still runs or maintains most state schools here: only 30% are academies or free schools.

Good to know in Cumberland

  • Cumberland advises checking with your child's school, as start and finish dates can vary slightly from the council's term dates. Source
  • Cumberland takes applications through its Citizen Portal or paper forms, not by phone. Source
  • Cumberland families must name three preferences. Source

From Cumberland council's website, checked 7 November 2026. Check the council's pages before you apply.

School admissions team: 01228 221582

Key dates each year

31 October
Secondary school applications close
15 January
Primary school applications close
1 March
Secondary school offers
16 April
Primary school offers

If a date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, offers go out the next working day.

98.2%got their first-choice primary school in Cumberland in 2026. England: 92.4%. Ranked 3 of 151 councils. 99.7% got one of their top three.1.0% were offered a primary school in another council. England: 3.6%.

95.3%got their first-choice secondary school in Cumberland in 2026. England: 83.6%. Ranked 9 of 151 councils. 98.9% got one of their top three.2.9% were offered a secondary school in another council. England: 8.0%.

Source: DfE applications and offers, 2026. A low rate shows high demand, not poor schools.

3 of 7 primary appeals heard in Cumberland succeeded in 2025. 22 of 49 secondary appeals heard in Cumberland succeeded in 2025.

Term dates 2026 to 2027

TermStartsHalf termEnds
Autumn2 Sept26 Oct to 30 Oct18 Dec
Spring5 Jan15 Feb to 19 Feb25 Mar
Summer12 Apr31 May to 4 Jun16 Jul

For schools that follow the council's dates. Academies, faith and foundation schools can set their own, and schools add training days. Source, checked 6 November 2026.

Nearby councils

By age

What's on offer for each age

Pick a stage to see every Cumberland school for that age, with filters for type, faith and Ofsted grade.

More ways to narrow it down

Here's how Cumberland's schools break down by type, faith and more.

Towns

Schools in each part of Cumberland

The blue bar is the average Eduscope score of the primary schools in each town. The black line is the Cumberland average, 44.

Browse Cumberland by postcode

Some areas, like parts of a bigger town, are easiest to find by postcode.

Cumberland vs England

How good are Cumberland's schools?

Inspections, exam results and attendance, next to the figure for England where we have it.

Numbers that sum up Cumberland

CumberlandEngland

  • Primaries rated Good or Outstanding

    Latest Ofsted grade, 104 primaries with one.

    97%

    England 96%

    Close to England

  • Secondaries rated Good or Outstanding

    10 of the 10 with a grade.

    100%

    England 93%

    Above England

  • Met the expected standard at 11

    Reading, writing and maths.

    56%

    England 62%

    Below England

  • Grade 5 or above in English and maths

    At GCSE.

    34%

  • Pupils who miss a lot of school

    Missed 1 in 10 days or more. Lower is better.

    16%

    England 18%

    Better than England

  • Primary pupils on free school meals

    A sign of family income, not of school quality.

    21%

Ofsted grades

Latest graded inspection for the 121 schools that have one.

98%

Good or Outstanding

Each square is 1% of schools.

  • Outstanding5
  • Good113
  • Requires improvement3
  • Inadequate0

How it has changed

Cumberland in blue. There were no tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.

Met the expected standard at 11
Covid gap40%55%70%20182019202320242025
56% in 2025. England now 62% (dashed line).
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Covid gap20%35%50%2018201920222023202420252026
34% in 2026.
Pupils who miss a lot of school
Covid gap0%20%40%20142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
16% in 2025. England now 18% (dashed line).

The figures in full

The latest published year for each measure. Sources and years are on our data sources page.

MeasureCumberlandEngland
Good or Outstanding (Ofsted)98%95%
Met the expected standard at 11 (KS2)56%62%
Attainment 840.846.2
Persistent absence16%18%
Pupils per teacher17.6:117.9:1
Spending per pupil£8,527£8,120
In education or work after 1692%91%
Went on to higher education42%56%
Pupils with special educational needs20%21%
Pupils with English as an additional language6%22%
Pupils on free school meals22%27%

DfE local authority code 942, ONS code E06000063.

Living here

What it's like for families

Cumberland has 244 schools and nurseries across 10 towns and villages, the biggest being Carlisle, Whitehaven, Workington and Cockermouth.

Pupil numbers are about the same as in 2018.

21% of primary pupils here get free school meals. Schools get extra money for each of them.

Pupil numbers

Pupils in Cumberland's state schools each January.

Up 1% since 2018. More children can mean popular schools fill up faster.

Free school meals

Out of every 10 primary pupils, how many get free school meals. It's a sign of family income, not of school quality.

Cumberland21%

Keep up with schools in Cumberland

Follow any school and we'll email you when it gets a new Ofsted report or new results are out. Nothing else.

Find a school to follow
Questions

Questions parents ask about Cumberland

How many schools are in Cumberland?

Cumberland has 244 schools, including 153 primary schools, 29 secondary schools, 70 nurseries, 5 independent schools, 6 special schools. Some count in more than one group. You can browse each category using the filters on Eduscope.

What are the best schools in Cumberland?

The highest-ranked schools in Cumberland on Eduscope are Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School, Bookwell Primary School, Lanercost CofE Primary School. We rank each state school against schools of the same phase across England on its Ofsted inspection, results and attendance. Independent, special and nursery schools aren't ranked.

What percentage of schools in Cumberland are rated Good or Outstanding?

98% of inspected schools in Cumberland hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating, which is above the England average of 94.8%. This includes 5 schools rated Outstanding and 113 rated Good.

How do primary schools in Cumberland perform at Key Stage 2?

Across primary schools in Cumberland, 56% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2. This is based on the latest published results from the Department for Education.

What is the average pupil-teacher ratio in Cumberland?

The average pupil-teacher ratio across schools in Cumberland is 17.6:1. While not a direct measure of class size, this indicates the level of teaching resource available per pupil. Across England it is 17.9:1.

What is the persistent absence rate in Cumberland schools?

The persistent absence rate across schools in Cumberland is 16.3%. A pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of school sessions. Across England it is 18.1%.

How many pupils attend schools in Cumberland?

There are 39,002 pupils enrolled across schools in Cumberland, with 21,224 in primary and 17,561 in secondary. 21.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

How many private schools are in Cumberland?

There are 5 independent schools in Cumberland. Fees vary by school and age group, with day school fees typically ranging from £10,000 to £20,000 per year. You can compare all private schools in Cumberland on Eduscope, including ISI inspection ratings where available.

How do I choose the right school in Cumberland?

Start by considering your child's age, your location, and whether you prefer a state or independent school. Use Eduscope to compare 244 schools in Cumberland by Ofsted ratings, exam results, and distance. Filter by school type, gender, religious character, and admissions policy to narrow your options.

Sources: DfE school performance tables, DfE school census and workforce, DfE pupil absence, Ofsted. Photos are stand-ins.

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