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Great Corby School and Nursery

  • Ofsted: Good · Mar 2014
  • Ages 3 to 11
  • Carlisle CA4
  • 99 pupils

In short: a primary academy with a nursery, in a better-off part of the area. Ofsted rated it Good, but that was in 2014. Recent results and attendance are above average.

Young children sitting together at a classroom table
A red-brick school building under a blue sky

Eduscope rank score

How it ranks in England

A score out of 100 against schools of the same phase, from Ofsted, results and attendance.

DfE and Ofsted dataHow we work this out

Good to know

  • Good in all 4 areas at its last graded inspection.
  • Results above average. 80% met the standard. England: 62%.
  • Good attendance. 3% of children are often absent. Cumberland: 10%.

Worth checking

  • Old grade. The Good rating is from 2014, before Covid.
Check my chances
  • OfstedGoodMar 2014, 12 years ago
  • Met the standard at 1180%Cumberland 56% · England 62%
  • Reception, 20268 of 8first choices got a place
  • Free school meals6%Cumberland 20%
  • Pupils99Room for 105, plus 6 in nursery
  • Days missed3%About 6 days a year
Then and now

Good in 2014. What's changed since?

Ofsted rated the school Good in 2009. 5 years later it was still Good. Since then it has had two shorter, ungraded visits, so there's no new grade.

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 2006.

Became an academy in February 2012. Earlier inspections are of Great Corby Primary School.

What Ofsted found in March 2014

  • LeadershipGood
  • Quality of teachingGood
  • Achievement of pupilsGood
  • Behaviour and safety of pupilsGood
Read the 2014 report on Ofsted

Earlier visits

Other Ofsted documents (1)

Letters and checks that aren't inspections, such as academy conversions, complaints and desk assessments. They don't change the school's grade.

The four grades, in plain English

Outstanding
Much better than the minimum.
Good
Meets every standard well.
Requires improvement
Not yet good. Ofsted will be back soon.
Inadequate
Serious problems that must be fixed.
Results

How children do by age 11

At the end of Year 6, children take national tests (called SATs) in reading, writing and maths. Latest results: summer 2025.

8 in 10 children met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths

Expected standard means a child is ready for secondary school work in all three subjects. 2025 tests.

80 out of every 100 Year 6 children
Great Corby School and Nursery80%
Cumberland56%
England62%

15 pupils took these tests in 2025, so one child is about 7 percentage points.

Against 3,155 primary schools with a similar share of children on free school meals (1% to 11%), it's ahead of about 64% on the expected standard over recent years.

A girl reading a book on library stairs

Test scores, 2025

100 means the child met the standard. The highest possible is 120.

Reading108
England106
Maths108
England105

Grammar and spelling: 93% met the standard (England 73%).

Every result, year by yearEach England row is the figure for the same year.
20252024202320222021202020192018
Pupils tested151417–––187
Met the expected standard80%71%71%–––89%100%
England62%61%60%65%64%
Higher standard13%0%12%–––11%14%
England8%8%8%11%10%
Reading score108109109–––107109
England106105105104105
Maths score108105105–––107109
England105104104105104
Grammar and spelling93%79%82%–––94%100%
England73%72%72%78%78%
Disadvantaged pupils101–––31
Reading progress––+3.5–––+0.5+1.7
Writing progress––+0.3–––+0.1+1.1
Maths progress––+0.4–––-0.1+2.6

The expected standard is the level the government expects at the end of Year 6, in reading, writing and maths together. The higher standard is well above it. Scores run from 80 to 120, and 100 meets the expected standard.

Disadvantaged pupils are those on free school meals in the last 6 years, or in care. Each group's England row is the same group across England. Small groups swing a lot from year to year, and a dash means DfE published no figure, often to protect small groups.

Progress compares children with others who started from the same point, and 0 is average. There are no scores after 2023, because the Year 2 tests they're measured from were cancelled in Covid.

Source: DfE, Find school and college performance data.

There were no national tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid. Tests came back in 2022, but DfE didn't publish school results for that year.

Great Corby School and Nursery among primary schools in Cumberland

Each dot is one school, placed by the share of children meeting the expected standard.

Cumberland 56%England 62%0%25%50%75%100%Distington Community School: 9%Holm Cultram Abbey CofE Primary School: 10%Blackford CofE Primary School: 13%Crosscanonby St John's CofE School: 18%Blennerhasset School: 29%Victoria Junior School: 29%Thwaites School: 29%Northside Primary School: 30%Fir Ends Primary School: 33%Montreal CofE Primary School: 33%All Saints' CofE School: 35%St Bridget's CofE School: 36%Valley Primary School and Nursery: 36%Braithwaite CofE Primary School: 36%Kirkbride Primary School: 38%Broughton Moor Primary School: 38%Silloth Primary School: 38%Robert Ferguson Primary School: 38%Hallbankgate Village School: 38%Monkwray Junior School: 41%St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle: 41%Seaton St. Paul's CofE Junior School: 42%Brook Street Primary School: 43%Waberthwaite CofE School: 43%The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided): 43%Bransty Primary School: 44%Boltons CofE School: 45%St Michael's CofE Primary School: 45%Maryport CofE Primary School: 45%Dean CofE School: 45%Thomlinson Junior School: 46%Inglewood Junior School: 46%Orgill Primary School: 46%Cumwhinton School: 47%St Bridget's CofE School: 47%St Begh's Catholic Junior School: 47%St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Workington: 47%Ewanrigg Junior School: 48%Burgh by Sands School: 50%Haverigg Primary School: 50%Lowca Community School: 50%Black Combe Junior School: 50%Newlaithes Junior School: 50%Beckermet CofE School: 50%Hensingham Primary School: 50%Petteril Bank School: 50%Pennine Way Primary School: 51%Flimby Primary School: 52%St Patrick's Catholic Primary School: 53%Moor Row Community Primary School: 54%St Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School: 54%Wreay Church of England Primary School: 54%Our Lady and St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Maryport: 54%Seascale Primary School: 55%Stanwix School: 55%Newtown Primary School: 55%Caldew Lea School: 56%St Matthew's CofE School: 57%St Bede's Catholic Primary School: 57%Rockcliffe CofE School: 58%Dearham Primary School: 58%Richmond Hill School: 59%Norman Street Primary School: 59%Warwick Bridge Primary School: 59%Kingmoor Junior School: 60%Brampton Primary School: 60%St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle: 60%Upperby Primary School: 61%St Bees Village Primary School: 61%Ashfield Junior School: 62%St Bridget's Catholic Primary School: 62%Kirkbampton CofE School: 63%St James' Catholic Primary School: 64%Westfield Nursery and Primary School: 64%Beckstone Primary School: 65%Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School: 67%Plumbland CofE School: 67%Rosley CofE School: 67%Lorton School: 67%Houghton CofE School: 68%Yewdale School: 68%Longtown Primary School: 68%Belle Vue Primary School: 69%St Mary's Catholic Primary School: 69%Frizington Community Primary School: 70%Raughton Head CofE School & Nursery: 70%St Patrick's Catholic Primary School: 70%Castle Carrock School: 70%Broughton Primary School: 72%Cummersdale School: 73%Thursby Primary School: 74%St James' CofE Junior School: 74%Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy: 74%Wiggonby CofE School: 75%Bowness-on-Solway Primary School: 75%St Mary's Catholic Primary School: 76%Irthington Village School: 78%Ennerdale and Kinniside CofE Primary School: 78%Scotby CofE Primary School: 78%Bookwell Primary School: 80%Moresby Primary School: 80%Great Corby School and Nursery: 80%Gosforth CofE Primary School and Nursery: 81%Lanercost CofE Primary School: 82%Shankhill CofE Primary School: 83%Fairfield Primary School: 83%Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School: 87%Hayton CofE Primary School: 88%Crosby-on-Eden CofE School: 88%Jericho Primary School: 89%Stoneraise School: 90%St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School: 91%Great Corby School and Nursery 80%
Great Corby School and Nursery is higher than 99 of 111 other Cumberland state primary schools in 2025.
Getting in

Could your child get a place?

In 2026 every family who put Great Corby School and Nursery first got a place.

18 families applied and 8 were offered Reception places

Families list several schools, so this counts every family who listed it, not only those who put it first. 8 families put it first, and all of them got a place.

● 8 places: each figure is about 10

Over the last 3 rounds, 34 of 34 families who put it first got a place (100%). Room for 105 suggests about 15 places a year. The exact number is in the school's admissions policy.

Demand has fallen sharply in 12 years

Applications each year. The black line is how many places were offered. Applications fell from 22 in 2025 to 18.

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.

  1. 1Children in care, or who used to be
  2. 2Children with a brother or sister already at the school
  3. 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.

A parent walking two children along the pavement
Three children with backpacks crossing a street

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.

Applications and offers, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Applications18222030211023212116292131
First choices81214139411101010141013
Offers made81214139411101010141012
Offers to first choices81214139411101010141012
First choices who got a place100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%92%
England92%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 Great Corby School and Nursery

The average child misses about 6 days a year

That's 3% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 38 children (3%) 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. 6 children this year.

Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.

Pupils

Who goes to Great Corby School and Nursery

A steady school: 92 pupils in 2018, 99 now.

Year 6, in darker blue, is the year group that sits the tests at 11.
Children in front of a bookshelf

Ethnic background

97% White British · 1% Irish · 1% Mixed Other · 1% White Other

  • 6.1%

    Free school meals

    Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.

    Cumberland20%

  • 3%

    English as an additional language

    Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.

    Cumberland7.2%

  • 15.2%

    Special educational needs

    Children with special educational needs, with or without an EHC plan.

    Main needs recorded (pupils)

    • Speech, language and communication5
    • Social, emotional and mental health5
    • Moderate learning difficulty2

    Cumberland18.8%

  • 3%

    EHC plan

    Children with a legal plan for more complex needs (an Education, Health and Care plan).

Pupils and attendance, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Pupils on roll99101991039999–10192––––
Days missed–3%5%3.7%5.3%1.1%–3%2.6%3.5%3%2.9%3.8%
England5.2%5.5%5.9%6.3%3.7%4%4.2%4%4%4%3.9%
Often absent–2.6%5.3%8.9%11%0%–2.6%1.4%7.4%2.9%3%7.8%
England13%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 Great Corby School and Nursery. Take this list with you.

  1. 1“What did Ofsted say on its March 2024 visit?”The Good grade is from 2014. The newer report is the best guide to the school today.
  2. 2“How will you use the money in reserve?”The school had £193,000 saved at the last count, or £193,000 adjusted for its share of its trust's central reserves.
  3. 3“Does a nursery place help with getting into Reception?”In 2026, 18 families applied and 8 were offered places.
  4. 4“How do you support children who need extra help?”15.2% of pupils have special educational needs here.
Nearby

Other primary schools nearby

Popular schools fill up, so it's wise to list more than one. Here's how Great Corby School and Nursery compares with its neighbours.

See all Cumberland primaries
Ofsted: GoodYou're here

Great Corby School and Nursery

CA4 8NE · Academy Converter · 99 pupils

Met the standard
80%
Days missed
3%
Pupils per teacher
19.6
Ofsted: Good

Warwick Bridge Primary School

CA4 8RE · State · Primary · Ages 3–11

Met the standard
59%
Days missed
4.4%
Pupils per teacher
19.0
Ofsted: Good

Cumwhinton School

CA4 8DU · State · Primary · Ages 4–11

Met the standard
47%
Days missed
4.4%
Pupils per teacher
23.9
Ofsted: Expected standard in every area

Scotby CofE Primary School

CA4 8AT · State · Primary · Ages 5–11

Met the standard
78%
Days missed
3.7%
Pupils per teacher
18.2

Keep an eye on Great Corby School and Nursery

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 20 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.

5teachers (full-time equivalent)
4.4teaching assistants
100%of teachers fully qualified
Pupils in a classroom while their teacher presents
Staff, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011
Pupils per teacher19.618.317.419.320.119.719.31917.4172118.522.225–15.8
England20.720.820.820.720.620.620.920.920.920.620.520.420.520.520.5
Teachers (full-time)55.35.35.14.84.94.955.2544.53.52.814
Teaching assistants4.4433.83.833.81.833.33.22.82.82.71.6–
Qualified teachers100%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.

Figures up to 2012 include Great Corby Primary School, the school it replaced.

£7,786 spent on each child a year

2024 to 2025. Up from £5,412 in 2017. Cumberland: £7,525. England, primary schools, 2024-25: £7,039.

  • Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£5,89876%
  • Buildings and grounds£2453%
  • Everything else: books, IT, food, supplies£1,64321%
Money in
£7,388
Spent
£7,786

These are the school's own accounts, not the whole of Great Corby School. They leave out what the trust spends centrally, so compare with other schools with care. In 2024-25 it spent £39,000 more than it took in (£398 per pupil), which comes out of its reserves.

The school had £193,000 saved (£1,969 per pupil) in 2025. Adjusted for its share of its trust's central reserves, that's £193,000. Reserves are for a rainy day, but they're meant to benefit pupils. Worth asking how they'll be used.

Money per pupil, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
202520242023202220212020201920182017
Spending£7,786£7,624£6,943£5,928£5,785£5,194£5,716£5,160£5,412
England£7,039£6,588£6,167£5,758£5,397£5,306£5,126£5,058£5,066
Income£7,388£7,527£7,318£6,400£5,272£5,487£5,063£5,370£5,424
Staff costs£5,898£5,516£5,330£4,492£4,554£4,325£3,789£4,044£4,059
Buildings and grounds£245£237£170£185£215£157£211£166£200
Reserves£1,969£2,516£2,739£2,154£1,764£2,168£2,263£2,917£2,659

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 11, with nursery
Type
Academy, run by a trust
Academy trust
Great Corby School
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Size
99 pupils (6 in nursery), 105 places
Headteacher
Mrs Kirsty Fox
Special needs catered for
Specific Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language & Communication, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional & Mental Health and Moderate Learning Difficulty
Opened
February 2012
Council
Cumberland
Address
Great Corby, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 8NE
Phone
01228 560399
Website
www.gtcorby.cumbria.sch.uk
School number (URN)
137860 · See it on the government register
Questions

Questions parents ask

Is Great Corby School and Nursery a good school?

Ofsted rated it Good in March 2014. That's a while ago. In 2025, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 56% in Cumberland and 62% across England. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.

What is Great Corby School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated it Good in March 2014. That's a while ago. Ofsted no longer gives one overall grade, so its next inspection will give a report card that grades each area. The full report on Ofsted's website explains what it does well and what it needs to improve.

What are Great Corby School and Nursery's SATs results?

In 2025, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 56% in Cumberland and 62% across England. 13% reached the higher standard, against 5% in Cumberland and 8% across England. Its average scaled scores were 108 in reading and 108 in maths, where 100 is the expected standard.

How does Great Corby School and Nursery compare with other schools in Cumberland?

80% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2025. That puts it joint 11th of 112 mainstream state primary schools in Cumberland with published results that year.

How hard is it to get a place?

In 2026, 18 families applied and 8 were offered Reception places, and 8 families put it as their first choice. Every family who put it first got a place that year.

Does Great Corby School and Nursery 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.

How do you work out the Eduscope rank score?

We compare the school with others of the same phase across England on its latest Ofsted inspection, results and attendance, and turn that into a score out of 100. The weights are on our methodology page. Admissions, staff and money aren't part of it.

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.

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