Ofsted: GoodYou're hereSt Michael's Nursery and Infant School
CA14 2UY · Community School · 117 pupils
- Days missed
- 6.3%
- Pupils per teacher
- 37.5
St Michael's Nursery and Infant School
- Ofsted: Good · Jan 2015
- Ages 2 to 7
- Workington CA14
- 117 pupils
In short: a growing primary school with a nursery. Ofsted rated it Good, but that was in 2015.
Good to know
- Good in all 5 areas at its last graded inspection.
- Nursery from 2, so younger brothers and sisters can start early.
- Every teacher qualified, with qualified teacher status.
Worth checking
- Old grade. The Good rating is from 2015, before Covid.
- High absence. 1 in 5 children missed a lot of school in 2024-25 (England: 1 in 8).
- In deficit: £312,100 overspent at the last count.
- OfstedGood
- Reception, 202620 of 20first choices got a place
- Free school meals20%Cumberland 20%
- Pupils117Room for 136, plus 49 in nursery
- Days missed6.3%
Then and now
Good in 2015. What's changed since?
Ofsted rated the school Good in 2011. 4 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 2007.
What Ofsted found in January 2011
- LeadershipGood
- Quality of teachingGood
- Achievement of pupilsGood
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsGood
- Early yearsGood
What Ofsted found in January 2015
- LeadershipGood
- Quality of teachingGood
- Achievement of pupilsGood
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsGood
- Early yearsGood
A shorter visit in June 2019
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 Good.
Read the 2019 report on OfstedA shorter visit in March 2025
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. It's the most up-to-date view of the school, so it's worth reading before you visit.
Ofsted's verdict: Standards have been kept up.
Read the 2025 report on OfstedThe 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.
Getting in
Could your child get a place?
In 2026 every family who put St Michael's first got a place.
31 families applied and 20 were offered Reception places
Families list several schools, so this counts every family who listed it, not only those who put it first. 20 families put it first, and all of them got a place.
Over the last 3 rounds, 57 of 57 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. Applications fell from 40 in 2025 to 31.
32
28
23
25
34
34
23
27
21
23
23
40
31
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 | 31 | 40 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 27 | 23 | 34 | 34 | 25 | 23 | 28 | 32 |
| First choices | 20 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 14 |
| Offers made | 20 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 19 |
| Offers to first choices | 20 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 14 |
| First choices who got a place | 100% | 100% | 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 St Michael's
The average child misses about 12 days a year
That's 6.3% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 5 children (21%) 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 2. 49 children this year.
Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.
Pupils
Who goes to St Michael's
A growing school: 76 pupils in 2018, 117 now.
49
28
25
15
51% girls49% boys
Ethnic background
77% White British · 4% African · 4% Any other ethnic group · 3% White Other · 12% in smaller groups
- 19.7%
Free school meals
Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.
Cumberland20%
- 13.7%
English as an additional language
Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.
Cumberland7.2%
- 25.6%
Special educational needs
Children with special educational needs, with or without an EHC plan.
Main needs recorded (pupils)
- Autism12
- Social, emotional and mental health3
- Physical disability2
Cumberland18.8%
- 8.5%
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 | 117 | 110 | 91 | 65 | 63 | 63 | – | 64 | 76 | – | – | – | – |
| Days missed | – | 6.3% | 5% | 7.6% | 6.7% | 6% | – | 4.8% | 5.2% | 3.1% | 4.8% | 6.1% | 4.5% |
| England | 5.2% | 5.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 4% | 4.2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3.9% | ||
| Often absent | – | 21.2% | 13.3% | 32.4% | 14.7% | 21.2% | – | 3.6% | 5.1% | 2.4% | 5.3% | 18.2% | 13.6% |
| 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 St Michael's. Take this list with you.
- 1“What did Ofsted say on its March 2025 visit?”The Good grade is from 2015. The newer report is the best guide to the school today.
- 2“What are you doing about attendance?”1 in 5 children missed at least 1 day in 10 in 2024-25.
- 3“How are you dealing with the deficit?”The school was £312,100 in deficit at the last count.
- 4“Does a nursery place help with getting into Reception?”In 2026, 31 families applied and 20 were offered places.
- 5“How do you support children who need extra help?”25.6% 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 St Michael's compares with its neighbours.
Ofsted: GoodYou're here
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
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
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
Keep an eye on St Michael's
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 38 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 10 children.
Average class: 25 children.
3.1teachers (full-time equivalent)
9teaching 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 | 37.5 | 32.1 | 24.4 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 17.4 | 17.1 | 15.7 | 17.5 | 16 | 14.2 | 16.6 | 11.3 | 17.3 | 20.8 | 16 |
| 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) | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 6.4 | 4.4 | 4 | 4.2 |
| Teaching assistants | 9 | 10.8 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 2.5 | – |
| 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.
£8,933 spent on each child a year
2025 to 2026. Up from £5,817 in 2015. Cumberland: £8,091.
- Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£7,24281%
- Buildings and grounds£3714%
- Everything else: books, IT, food, supplies£1,32115%
- Money in
- £7,986
- Spent
- £8,933
These are the school's own accounts. In 2025-26 it spent £110,851 more than it took in (£947 per pupil), which comes out of its reserves.
The school was £312,100 in deficit (£2,668 per pupil) in 2026: it had spent more than its reserves. Worth asking how it plans to recover.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spending | £8,933 | £8,830 | £7,613 | £8,329 | £9,073 | £7,703 | £7,480 | £7,506 | £6,650 | £7,069 | £7,353 | £5,817 |
| England | £7,039 | £6,588 | £6,167 | £5,758 | £5,397 | £5,306 | £5,126 | £5,058 | £5,066 | |||
| Income | £7,986 | £7,490 | £7,194 | £8,484 | £8,753 | £7,623 | £6,808 | £7,716 | £6,362 | £7,007 | £7,694 | £5,501 |
| Staff costs | £7,242 | £6,912 | £5,677 | £5,975 | £7,011 | £6,062 | £5,753 | £5,643 | £5,084 | £5,406 | – | – |
| Buildings and grounds | £371 | £477 | £388 | £614 | £661 | £313 | £356 | £398 | £355 | £366 | – | – |
| Reserves | £-2,668 | £-2,012 | £-807 | £-528 | £-718 | £-391 | £-317 | £365 | £139 | £468 | £525 | £141 |
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
- 2 to 7, with nursery
- Type
- Community School
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- None
- Size
- 117 pupils (49 in nursery), 136 places
- Headteacher
- Mrs Candice Regan
- Council
- Cumberland
- Address
- Station Road, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 2UY
- Phone
- 01900 608111
- Website
- www.smhwkt.cumbria.sch.uk
- School number (URN)
- 112143 · See it on the government register
Questions
Questions parents ask
Is St Michael's Nursery and Infant School a good school?
Ofsted rated it Good in January 2015. That's a while ago. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.
What is St Michael's Nursery and Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated it Good in January 2015. 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.
How hard is it to get a place?
In 2026, 31 families applied and 20 were offered Reception places, and 20 families put it as their first choice. Every family who put it first got a place that year.
Does St Michael's 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.
Why is absence high?
21% of children missed at least 1 day in 10, which counts as persistently absent. Absence went up across England after Covid. Ask the school what it's doing about 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.