Ofsted: Expected standard or betterYou're hereSeaton Academy
CA14 1NP · Academy Converter · 197 pupils
- Days missed
- 4.3%
- Pupils per teacher
- 21.0
Seaton Academy
- Ofsted: Expected standard or better · Jun 2026
- Ages 3 to 7
- Workington CA14
- 197 pupils
In short: a primary academy with a nursery, in a better-off part of the area.
Good to know
- Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard at Ofsted's inspection in June 2026.
- Early years: Strong standard at Ofsted's inspection in June 2026.
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard at Ofsted's inspection in June 2026.
Worth checking
- Nothing stands out in the data. Visit, and ask the questions further down this page.
- Last Ofsted visitJun 2026less than a year ago
- Reception, 202635 of 35first choices got a place
- Free school meals8%Cumberland 20%
- Pupils197Room for 240, plus 41 in nursery
- Days missed4.3%About 8 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.
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in 2023.
Became an academy in September 2010. Earlier inspections are of Seaton Infant School.
What Ofsted found in June 2007
- LeadershipOutstanding
- Quality of teachingOutstanding
- Achievement of pupilsOutstanding
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
What Ofsted found in September 2022
- SafeguardingEffective
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- LeadershipInadequate
- Early yearsRequires improvement
What Ofsted found in December 2023
- SafeguardingEffective
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- LeadershipRequires improvement
- Early yearsRequires improvement
What Ofsted found in June 2026
- SafeguardingMet
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
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.
- Academy conversion · 16 Feb 2012
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 Seaton first got a place.
48 families applied and 35 were offered Reception places
Families list several schools, so this counts every family who listed it, not only those who put it first. 35 families put it first, and all of them got a place.
Over the last 3 rounds, 142 of 146 families who put it first got a place (97%).
Demand has fallen in 12 years
Applications each year. The black line is how many places were offered. Applications fell from 78 in 2025 to 48.
71
79
64
63
50
49
68
49
76
51
56
78
48
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 | 48 | 78 | 56 | 51 | 76 | 49 | 68 | 49 | 50 | 63 | 64 | 79 | 71 |
| First choices | 35 | 63 | 48 | 38 | 64 | 42 | 49 | 39 | 43 | 51 | 49 | 67 | 63 |
| Offers made | 35 | 59 | 48 | 38 | 64 | 43 | 50 | 39 | 43 | 51 | 49 | 67 | 63 |
| Offers to first choices | 35 | 59 | 48 | 38 | 64 | 42 | 49 | 39 | 43 | 51 | 49 | 67 | 63 |
| First choices who got a place | 100% | 94% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 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 Seaton
The average child misses about 8 days a year
That's 4.3% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 15 children (7%) 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. 41 children this year.
Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.
Pupils
Who goes to Seaton
A shrinking school: 234 pupils in 2018, 197 now.
41
60
51
45
50% girls50% boys
Ethnic background
98% White British · 2% Mixed Other
- 7.6%
Free school meals
Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.
Cumberland20%
- 0%
English as an additional language
Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.
Cumberland7.2%
- 12.7%
Special educational needs
Children with special educational needs, with or without an EHC plan.
Main needs recorded (pupils)
- Speech, language and communication15
- Autism4
- Social, emotional and mental health2
Cumberland18.8%
- 0.5%
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 | 197 | 216 | 209 | 204 | 191 | 186 | – | 200 | 234 | – | – | – | – |
| Days missed | – | 4.3% | 3.6% | 5.9% | 6.8% | 1.6% | – | 3.8% | 4% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| England | 5.2% | 5.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 4% | 4.2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3.9% | ||
| Often absent | – | 6.5% | 4.6% | 16.5% | 15.6% | 1.1% | – | 4.7% | 6.3% | 6.4% | 9.3% | 4.8% | 9.1% |
| 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 Seaton. Take this list with you.
- 1“How will you use the money in reserve?”The school had £401,000 saved at the last count.
- 2“Does a nursery place help with getting into Reception?”In 2026, 48 families applied and 35 were offered places.
- 3“How do you support children who need extra help?”12.7% 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 Seaton compares with its neighbours.
Ofsted: Expected standard or betterYou're here
Ofsted: GoodSeaton St. Paul's CofE Junior School
CA14 1HA · State · Primary · Ages 7–11
- Met the standard
- 42%
- Days missed
- 4.4%
- Pupils per teacher
- 20.2
Ofsted: GoodNorthside Primary School
CA14 1BD · Academy · Primary · Ages 2–11
- Met the standard
- 30%
- Days missed
- 5.0%
- Pupils per teacher
- 16.9
Ofsted: GoodSt Patrick's Catholic Primary School
CA14 2DW · State · Primary · Ages 4–11
- Met the standard
- 53%
- Days missed
- 4.0%
- Pupils per teacher
- 22.1
Keep an eye on Seaton
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 21 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: 25 children.
9.2teachers (full-time equivalent)
9.1teaching 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 | 21 | 24.7 | 21.8 | 18.6 | 19.7 | 19.4 | 16.6 | 19.5 | 20.8 | 19.3 | 17.5 | 19.3 | 29.3 | 30.4 | 23.3 | 21.6 |
| 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) | 9.2 | 8.6 | 9.2 | 10.2 | 9 | 9 | 10.1 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Teaching assistants | 9.1 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 12.1 | 11.9 | 12.3 | 13.3 | 11.7 | 10.1 | 9.2 | 8.1 | – |
| 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.
£5,952 spent on each child a year
2019 to 2020. Up from £4,937 in 2017. Cumberland: £5,430. England, primary schools, 2019-20: £5,306.
- Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£4,90582%
- Buildings and grounds£3816%
- Everything else: books, IT, food, supplies£66711%
- Money in
- £5,637
- Spent
- £5,952
These are the school's own accounts. In 2019-20 it spent £53,000 more than it took in (£315 per pupil), which comes out of its reserves.
The school had £401,000 saved (£2,387 per pupil) in 2020. Reserves are for a rainy day, but they're meant to benefit pupils. Worth asking how they'll be used.
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spending | £5,952 | £5,681 | £4,714 | £4,937 |
| England | £5,306 | £5,126 | £5,058 | £5,066 |
| Income | £5,637 | £5,443 | £4,979 | £4,752 |
| Staff costs | £4,905 | £5,016 | £3,881 | £3,874 |
| Buildings and grounds | £381 | £205 | £252 | £216 |
| Reserves | £2,387 | £2,492 | £2,005 | £1,874 |
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
- Academy, run by a trust
- Academy trust
- Seaton Academy
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- None
- Size
- 197 pupils (41 in nursery), 240 places
- Headteacher
- Mr Robert Barton
- Opened
- September 2010
- Council
- Cumberland
- Address
- High Seaton, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 1NP
- Phone
- 0190066982
- Website
- www.seatonacademy.co.uk
- School number (URN)
- 136285 · See it on the government register
Questions
Questions parents ask
Is Seaton Academy a good school?
Ofsted's June 2026 report card gives no overall grade. Strong standard: Personal development and wellbeing, Early years, Leadership and governance. Expected standard: Inclusion, Curriculum and teaching, Achievement, Attendance and behaviour. Safeguarding met the required standard. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.
What is Seaton Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted's June 2026 report card gives no overall grade. Strong standard: Personal development and wellbeing, Early years, Leadership and governance. Expected standard: Inclusion, Curriculum and teaching, Achievement, Attendance and behaviour. 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, 48 families applied and 35 were offered Reception places, and 35 families put it as their first choice. Every family who put it first got a place that year.
Does Seaton 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.