Ofsted: Needs attention in 4 areasYou're hereAshfield Infant & Nursery School
CA14 3JG · Community School · 200 pupils
- Days missed
- 4.7%
- Pupils per teacher
- 23.1
Ashfield Infant & Nursery School
- Ofsted: Needs attention in 4 areas · Jun 2026
- Ages 3 to 7
- Workington CA14
- 200 pupils
In short: a primary school with a nursery.
Good to know
- Good attendance. 9% of children are often absent. Cumberland: 10%.
- Nursery from 3, so younger brothers and sisters can start early.
- Every teacher qualified, with qualified teacher status.
Worth checking
- Inclusion: Needs attention at Ofsted's inspection in June 2026.
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention at Ofsted's inspection in June 2026.
- Achievement: Needs attention at Ofsted's inspection in June 2026.
- Last Ofsted visitJun 2026less than a year ago
- Reception, 202652 of 52first choices got a place
- Free school meals11%Cumberland 20%
- Pupils200Room for 201, plus 28 in nursery
- Days missed4.7%About 9 days a year
Then and now
What Ofsted found in Jun 2026
Ofsted no longer gives one overall grade. It rates each area on a five-point scale, from urgent improvement to exceptional, and checks whether safeguarding is met. The scale is new, so it can't be read straight across from old grades such as Good or Outstanding.
Every Ofsted visit
Ofsted inspects every state school every few years. Choose a year to see what they found.
Good or better at all 3 graded inspections since 2008.
What Ofsted found in December 2010
- LeadershipOutstanding
- Quality of teachingOutstanding
- Achievement of pupilsOutstanding
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsOutstanding
- Early yearsGood
What Ofsted found in November 2018
- SafeguardingEffective
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- LeadershipOutstanding
- Quality of teachingOutstanding
- Results for pupilsOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
A shorter visit in June 2024
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 Outstanding. Ofsted had some concerns, so its next visit will be a full graded inspection.
Read the 2024 report on OfstedWhat Ofsted found in June 2026
- SafeguardingMet
- InclusionNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Early yearsExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
The report card scale, in plain English
- Exceptional
- The very best practice, given rarely.
- Strong standard
- Better than Ofsted expects.
- Expected standard
- What Ofsted expects of every setting.
- Needs attention
- Some things must get better.
- Urgent improvement
- Serious problems to fix straight away.
Getting in
Could your child get a place?
In 2026 every family who put Ashfield first got a place.
108 families applied and 52 were offered Reception places
Families list several schools, so this counts every family who listed it, not only those who put it first. 52 families put it first, and all of them got a place.
Over the last 3 rounds, 156 of 156 families who put it first got a place (100%).
Demand has stayed steady in 12 years
Applications each year. The black line is how many places were offered.
104
132
111
102
110
126
118
112
105
102
102
110
108
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
- 3Everyone else, closest first
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 | 108 | 110 | 102 | 102 | 105 | 112 | 118 | 126 | 110 | 102 | 111 | 132 | 104 |
| First choices | 52 | 49 | 55 | 56 | 62 | 68 | 79 | 59 | 54 | 49 | 54 | 65 | 43 |
| Offers made | 52 | 51 | 55 | 56 | 60 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 54 | 50 | 54 | 59 | 45 |
| Offers to first choices | 52 | 49 | 55 | 56 | 60 | 58 | 59 | 59 | 54 | 49 | 54 | 56 | 43 |
| First choices who got a place | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 97% | 85% | 75% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 86% | 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 Ashfield
The average child misses about 9 days a year
That's 4.7% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 11 children (9%) 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 3. 28 children this year.
Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.
Pupils
Who goes to Ashfield
A steady school: 202 pupils in 2018, 200 now.
28
57
56
59
53% girls47% boys
Ethnic background
95% White British · 2% African · 1% Black Other · 1% Unclassified · 1% in smaller groups
- 11%
Free school meals
Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.
Cumberland20%
- 4%
English as an additional language
Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.
Cumberland7.2%
- 14%
Special educational needs
Children with special educational needs, with or without an EHC plan.
Main needs recorded (pupils)
- Speech, language and communication12
- Autism8
- Social, emotional and mental health2
Cumberland18.8%
- 2%
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 | 200 | 205 | 201 | 208 | 212 | 216 | – | 201 | 202 | – | – | – | – |
| Days missed | – | 4.7% | 4.8% | 6.1% | 5.4% | 2% | – | 3.9% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 4.5% |
| England | 5.2% | 5.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 4% | 4.2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3.9% | ||
| Often absent | – | 9.1% | 9.1% | 16.1% | 12.5% | 0.8% | – | 8% | 5% | 3.4% | 4.3% | 8.3% | 11.4% |
| 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 Ashfield. Take this list with you.
- 1“How will you use the money in reserve?”The school had £55,632 saved at the last count.
- 2“Does a nursery place help with getting into Reception?”In 2026, 108 families applied and 52 were offered places.
- 3“How do you support children who need extra help?”14% 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 Ashfield compares with its neighbours.
Ofsted: Needs attention in 4 areasYou're here
Ofsted: Requires improvementAshfield Junior School
CA14 4ES · State · Primary · Ages 7–11
- Met the standard
- 62%
- Days missed
- 3.8%
- Pupils per teacher
- 20.3
Ofsted: Good in every areaVictoria Infant and Nursery School
CA14 3XB · State · Primary · Ages 2–7
- Days missed
- 4.2%
- Pupils per teacher
- 8.7
Ofsted: Requires improvement in 2 areasVictoria Junior School
CA14 2RE · State · Primary · Ages 7–11
- Met the standard
- 29%
- Days missed
- 5.0%
- Pupils per teacher
- 18.7
Keep an eye on Ashfield
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 23 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 11 children.
Average class: 29 children.
8.6teachers (full-time equivalent)
10.3teaching assistants
100%of teachers fully qualified
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 23.1 | 23 | 21 | 20.7 | 22.8 | 23 | 21 | 18.5 | 17.7 | 29 | 29.1 | 24.6 | 22.3 | 23.1 | 24.1 | 22.4 |
| 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 | 20.5 | 20.5 | 20.5 |
| Teachers (full-time) | 8.6 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 9.6 | 9 | 9 | 9.4 | 10.3 | 10.5 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 7 | 7.9 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Teaching assistants | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 7.7 | 9.9 | 9.4 | 9 | 9.3 | 9.8 | 11.4 | 8.1 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 5.6 | – |
| Qualified teachers | 100% | 100% | 100% | 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.
£6,811 spent on each child a year
2025 to 2026. Up from £4,323 in 2015. Cumberland: £8,091.
- Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£5,43480%
- Buildings and grounds£3295%
- Everything else: books, IT, food, supplies£1,04815%
- Money in
- £6,825
- Spent
- £6,811
These are the school's own accounts. In 2025-26 it took in £2,807 more than it spent (£14 per pupil). Money left over goes into its reserves.
The school had £55,632 saved (£278 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 | £6,811 | £6,355 | £6,262 | £5,921 | £5,599 | £4,881 | £4,898 | £4,701 | £4,787 | £4,831 | £4,695 | £4,323 |
| England | £7,039 | £6,588 | £6,167 | £5,758 | £5,397 | £5,306 | £5,126 | £5,058 | £5,066 | |||
| Income | £6,825 | £6,409 | £6,313 | £5,959 | £5,409 | £4,937 | £4,847 | £4,856 | £4,742 | £4,832 | £4,634 | £4,396 |
| Staff costs | £5,434 | £5,071 | £4,904 | £4,665 | £4,311 | £3,867 | £3,808 | £3,606 | £3,538 | £3,600 | – | – |
| Buildings and grounds | £329 | £321 | £405 | £402 | £396 | £245 | £237 | £240 | £335 | £244 | – | – |
| Reserves | £278 | £262 | £217 | £162 | £120 | £309 | £266 | £328 | £177 | £222 | £220 | £303 |
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
- 3 to 7, with nursery
- Type
- Community School
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- None
- Size
- 200 pupils (28 in nursery), 201 places
- Headteacher
- Mrs Amy Barclay
- Council
- Cumberland
- Address
- Newlands Lane, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 3JG
- Phone
- 01900 606301
- School number (URN)
- 112146 · See it on the government register
Questions
Questions parents ask
Is Ashfield Infant & Nursery School a good school?
Ofsted's June 2026 report card gives no overall grade. Expected standard: Attendance and behaviour, Personal development and wellbeing, Early years. Needs attention: Inclusion, Curriculum and teaching, Achievement, Leadership and governance. Safeguarding met the required standard. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.
What is Ashfield Infant & Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted's June 2026 report card gives no overall grade. Expected standard: Attendance and behaviour, Personal development and wellbeing, Early years. Needs attention: Inclusion, Curriculum and teaching, Achievement, Leadership and governance. Safeguarding met the required standard. Report cards grade each area from Urgent improvement, Needs attention and Expected standard up to Strong standard and Exceptional. 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, 108 families applied and 52 were offered Reception places, and 52 families put it as their first choice. Every family who put it first got a place that year.
Does Ashfield 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?
No, it doesn't have a religious character.
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.