Brook Street Primary School, Carlisle

Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 12 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~523m)Possible (~747m)Unlikely (~971m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Jonathan Bursnall
Pupils:228 / 270 capacity
LA:Cumberland
Phone:01228558724
Address:Edward Street, Carlisle, CA1 2JB
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Needs Attention
Inspected 28 April 2026View full report
URN:112231
UKPRN:10074323
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Carlisle
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Brook Street Primary School excels at creating a warm, inclusive environment where all pupils are welcomed and supported. The school is particularly strong in caring for vulnerable pupils - those with additional needs, disadvantaged families and new arrivals all receive tailored support to help them succeed. Staff know pupils well and foster positive behaviour through kind relationships and clear expectations, making it a place where children genuinely enjoy coming to school.

Key Strengths

  • Warm, caring environment where pupils feel safe and behaviour is consistently good
  • Strong support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, helping them access the same curriculum as their peers
  • Effective leadership focused on inclusion, with dedicated spaces like the 'discovery den' and 'sensory zone' to support pupils' emotional wellbeing
  • Varied enrichment activities including sports, craft and chess clubs that are well-attended
  • Clear focus on reading and early literacy skills, with phonics taught in a structured way

Areas for Improvement

  • Some older pupils have gaps in handwriting, spelling and sentence construction that need to be addressed more consistently
  • Achievement in writing and mathematics is below expected levels, particularly in key stage 2 national tests
  • Early years teaching is not consistent enough - children need more opportunities to develop vocabulary and address misconceptions
  • Some pupils struggle to remember prior learning and have gaps that hinder their understanding of new topics

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Sports clubs, craft clubs, chess club, zoo and museum visits, school council, play leader roles, charity fundraising, environmental work with local wildlife trust

Brook Street Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school where pupils feel safe and supported. The school has established strong foundations in attendance, behaviour and personal development, though there are areas where achievement in writing and mathematics needs further improvement.

At a Glance

18.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+27ppMaths+10ppWriting+25pp

Reading has improved from 50% to 77%. Maths has improved from 50% to 60%. Writing has improved from 32% to 57%.

Class Sizes

28.4

Avg class size

29.0

Infant (KS1)

29.8

KS2

8

Total classes

2 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Carlisle Rail Station
756m · 12 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

84%

Available places

228 pupils

270 capacity

42 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Carlisle

Low pressure
New homes approved:493
Projected new pupils:123

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Carlisle

Admissions Demand - Cumberland

Low demand0.68x oversubscription

Places available

3,571

Applications

2,437

Got 1st preference

98.5%

Got preferred school

99.7%

Primary admissions across Cumberland (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

28 April 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
16 March 2022
7 March 2017

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.63925%

Overall absence

10.75269%

Persistent absence

186

Enrolments

Authorised3.24209%
Unauthorised1.39717%
Persistent (10%+)10.75269%
Severe (50%+)1.07527%

Absence trend

3.9718%
18/19
2.54931%
20/21
5.89011%
21/22
6.66778%
22/23
5.60031%
23/24
4.63925%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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