Ofsted: Good in every areaYou're hereVictoria Infant and Nursery School
CA14 3XB · Community School · 251 pupils
- Days missed
- 4.2%
- Pupils per teacher
- 8.7
Victoria Infant and Nursery School
- Ofsted: Good in every area · May 2025
- Ages 2 to 7
- Workington CA14
- 251 pupils
In short: a primary school with a nursery. Ofsted's May 2025 inspection gave no overall grade and found 5 areas Good.
Good to know
- Strong areas. Ofsted's May 2025 inspection found 5 areas Good.
- Good attendance. 7% of children are often absent. Cumberland: 10%.
- Nursery from 2, so younger brothers and sisters can start early.
Worth checking
- In deficit: £392,519 overspent at the last count.
- Ofsted inspectedMay 2025Areas graded, 1 year ago
- Reception, 202644 of 44first choices got a place
- Free school meals19%Cumberland 20%
- Pupils251Room for 320, plus 70 in nursery
- Days missed4.2%About 8 days a year
Then and now
Ofsted inspected May 2025 · areas graded
Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in 2010. 5 years later it was still Outstanding. Since then Ofsted has inspected it again and graded each area. Since September 2024 Ofsted no longer gives an overall 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 June 2007
- LeadershipOutstanding
- Quality of teachingOutstanding
- Achievement of pupilsOutstanding
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsGood
- Early yearsOutstanding
What Ofsted found in April 2010
- LeadershipOutstanding
- Quality of teachingOutstanding
- Achievement of pupilsGood
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
What Ofsted found in January 2015
- LeadershipOutstanding
- Quality of teachingOutstanding
- Achievement of pupilsOutstanding
- Behaviour and safety of pupilsOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
What Ofsted found in May 2025
- SafeguardingEffective
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- LeadershipGood
- Early yearsGood
Earlier visits
- 18 Jun 2003No grade givenReport
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.
Getting in
Could your child get a place?
In 2026 every family who put Victoria first got a place.
70 families applied and 44 were offered Reception places
Families list several schools, so this counts every family who listed it, not only those who put it first. 44 families put it first, and all of them got a place.
Over the last 3 rounds, 148 of 148 families who put it first got a place (100%).
Demand has fallen in 12 years
Applications each year. The black line is how many places were offered.
88
85
88
85
81
93
103
78
102
78
87
76
70
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 | 70 | 76 | 87 | 78 | 102 | 78 | 103 | 93 | 81 | 85 | 88 | 85 | 88 |
| First choices | 44 | 44 | 60 | 47 | 59 | 45 | 57 | 53 | 43 | 45 | 50 | 33 | 51 |
| Offers made | 44 | 44 | 60 | 47 | 60 | 46 | 62 | 53 | 43 | 46 | 50 | 40 | 51 |
| Offers to first choices | 44 | 44 | 60 | 47 | 59 | 45 | 57 | 53 | 43 | 45 | 50 | 33 | 51 |
| 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 Victoria
The average child misses about 8 days a year
That's 4.2% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 14 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 2. 70 children this year.
Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.
Pupils
Who goes to Victoria
A steady school: 262 pupils in 2018, 251 now.
70
55
62
64
46% girls54% boys
Ethnic background
80% White British · 6% Unclassified · 5% African · 2% White Other · 7% in smaller groups
- 19.1%
Free school meals
Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.
Cumberland20%
- 9.2%
English as an additional language
Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.
Cumberland7.2%
- 16.3%
Special educational needs
Children with special educational needs, with or without an EHC plan.
Main needs recorded (pupils)
- Speech, language and communication11
- Autism10
- Specific learning difficulty8
Cumberland18.8%
- 3.6%
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 | 251 | 300 | 300 | 312 | 292 | 291 | – | 260 | 262 | – | – | – | – |
| Days missed | – | 4.2% | 5.6% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 2.4% | – | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.5% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
| England | 5.2% | 5.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 4% | 4.2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3.9% | ||
| Often absent | – | 7.1% | 13.3% | 30.3% | 25.5% | 4.9% | – | 5.4% | 10.6% | 16.5% | 20.6% | 9.3% | 13.8% |
| 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 Victoria. Take this list with you.
- 1“What did Ofsted say on its May 2025 visit?”The Outstanding grade is from 2015. The newer report is the best guide to the school today.
- 2“How are you dealing with the deficit?”The school was £392,519 in deficit at the last count.
- 3“Does a nursery place help with getting into Reception?”In 2026, 70 families applied and 44 were offered places.
- 4“How do you support children who need extra help?”16.3% 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 Victoria compares with its neighbours.
Ofsted: Good in every areaYou're here
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: GoodSt Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Workington
CA14 3PD · Academy · Primary · Ages 2–11
- Met the standard
- 47%
- Days missed
- 5.0%
- Pupils per teacher
- 16.6
Ofsted: Needs attention in 4 areasAshfield Infant & Nursery School
CA14 3JG · State · Primary · Ages 3–7
- Days missed
- 4.7%
- Pupils per teacher
- 23.1
Keep an eye on Victoria
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 9 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 3 children.
Average class: 18 children.
27.1teachers (full-time equivalent)
41.4teaching assistants
100%of teachers fully qualified
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 8.7 | 17 | 25.5 | 28.4 | 26.2 | 24.8 | 23 | 31.5 | 31.9 | 33.5 | 27.1 | 29.8 | 33.4 | 20.8 | 21.1 |
| 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 |
| Teachers (full-time) | 27.1 | 16.8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9.4 | 9 |
| Teaching assistants | 41.4 | 27.3 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 14.4 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 11.4 | 11.6 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.9 |
| Qualified teachers | 100% | 92% | 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.
£8,809 spent on each child a year
2025 to 2026. Up from £7,364 in 2015. Cumberland: £8,091.
- Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£6,47473%
- Buildings and grounds£3724%
- Everything else: books, IT, food, supplies£1,96322%
- Money in
- £8,265
- Spent
- £8,809
These are the school's own accounts. In 2025-26 it spent £127,837 more than it took in (£544 per pupil), which comes out of its reserves.
The school was £392,519 in deficit (£1,670 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 | £8,809 | £7,627 | £7,398 | £5,670 | £5,513 | £5,066 | £5,572 | £6,586 | £6,508 | £6,326 | £6,711 | £7,364 |
| England | £7,039 | £6,588 | £6,167 | £5,758 | £5,397 | £5,306 | £5,126 | £5,058 | £5,066 | |||
| Income | £8,265 | £7,197 | £7,191 | £5,656 | £5,423 | £5,427 | £5,467 | £6,253 | £6,595 | £5,802 | £6,838 | £7,178 |
| Staff costs | £6,474 | £5,403 | £5,107 | £3,920 | £3,800 | £3,859 | £4,244 | £4,795 | £4,775 | £4,083 | – | – |
| Buildings and grounds | £372 | £368 | £334 | £326 | £371 | £172 | £177 | £225 | £206 | £790 | – | – |
| Reserves | £-1,670 | £-929 | £-506 | £-270 | £-277 | £-197 | £-600 | £-568 | £-232 | £-304 | £271 | £154 |
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
- 251 pupils (70 in nursery), 320 places
- Associate Headteacher
- Mrs Victoria Hepburn-Fish
- Council
- Cumberland
- Address
- Islay Place, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 3XB
- Phone
- 01900 601489
- Website
- www.victoriaschool.org.uk
- School number (URN)
- 112144 · See it on the government register
Questions
Questions parents ask
Is Victoria Infant and Nursery School a good school?
Ofsted's May 2025 inspection gave no overall grade and found 5 areas Good. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.
What is Victoria Infant and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted's May 2025 inspection gave no overall grade and found 5 areas Good. 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, 70 families applied and 44 were offered Reception places, and 44 families put it as their first choice. Every family who put it first got a place that year.
Does Victoria 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.