Cairn Education CIC, Cumbria
Cairn Education CIC is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 25 in Cumbria. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, ended in a report card: 6 strong standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Cairn Education CIC in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 17 March 2026 inspection grades Cairn Education CIC on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "All pupils have an education, health and care plan, with autism as their main need."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils have experienced many barriers to learning in their previous education."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The school has created a broad and engaging curriculum that rekindles pupils' interest in learning."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have placed inclusion at the heart of the school's work."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "The proprietor and leaders draw on a range of information to understand how well the school is working for pupils."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have created a carefully planned programme of activities for pupils' personal development and wellbeing."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "The proprietor and leaders should sustain the effectiveness of their work in all areas. They should seek continued improvement, overcoming barriers and challenges, in order to drive a transformational impact for all the pupils that attend the school".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Cairn Education CIC in its own words
In its own words: "Cairn education believes in creating learning and employment environments in which young people are able to flourish. We understand that young people need to be safe, valued and understood in order to thrive."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Cairn Education CIC are Cambian Whinfell School (3.7 miles, Outstanding, selective); South Lakes Academy (4.4 miles, Good); and Sandgate School (4.5 miles, Good).
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cairn Education CIC (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school and 100% say their child is happy there.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (92%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Cairn Education CIC has an education, health and care plan (10 of 10 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 230 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Eagle and Child (opposite), 210 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11).
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since January 2026 for independent schools)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Cairn Education CIC
Pupils arrive at school each day with calm confidence. They feel safe and secure because of the positive relationships that they have with staff. Pupils experience consistent, predictable routines, which help them to feel at ease because they know what to expect. As a result, pupils settle quickly and make the most of their school day. Pupils are consistently polite and respectful to adults and to each other. They learn to regulate their behaviour well. Adults rarely have to remind them how to conduct themselves. This creates a calm, orderly environment, where pupils can learn without disruption. Many pupils have experienced long periods of absence from their earlier education. Some have previously disengaged from school altogether. However, they quickly re-engage with learning when they join this school. Pupils develop positive attitudes to their education and begin to consider their future aspirations. Consequently, pupils are motivated to attend and participate in their learning. All pupils have an education, health and care plan for their special educational needs and/or disabilities. Many have needs that are complex. All have faced significant barriers to their earlier learning. Regardless of these challenges, staff expect pupils to try their best and to commit to their learning. Pupils rise to these expectations, make secure progress from their starting points and are well prepared for their next steps.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- The proprietor and leaders should sustain the effectiveness of their work in all areas. They should seek continued improvement, overcoming barriers and challenges, in order to drive a transformational impact for all the pupils that attend the school.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 17 March 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at rebuilding confidence in young people who have experienced long periods away from education. Staff take time to know pupils well, identify their interests and provide the precise support they need to manage their emotions and behaviour. As a result, pupils develop positive attitudes to learning and move on to meaningful employment or further education.
Key Strengths
- Pupils make notable progress and re-engage with learning, with all 2025 leavers progressing to employment, further education or training
- Attendance improves considerably once pupils join the school, with persistent absence reducing significantly
- The school provides a calm, orderly environment where pupils feel safe and develop confidence to learn
- Staff skillfully identify pupils' interests and remove barriers to learning through precise support
- Curriculum is broad, engaging and carefully adapted to meet pupils' individual needs and fill gaps from previous absence
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Work experiences through links with local employers and colleges, careers advice and guidance, relationships and sex education programme, activities focused on personal development and wellbeing, discussions on ethical issues and environmental matters
Cairn Education CIC is a specialist school for pupils with autism who have experienced significant barriers to learning and disengagement from education. The school has achieved a strong standard rating across all areas, with leaders and staff highly committed to helping pupils re-engage and progress.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with Cairn Education CIC
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
10 pupils
10 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Cumbria
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cumbria
Across Westmorland and Furness council
Places available
2,857
Applications
1,903
Got 1st preference
96.4%
Got preferred school
99.5%
All secondary applications across Westmorland and Furness council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
Independent school standard inspection - first
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Cairn Education CIC is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
10
Total Pupils
5
Boys
5
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cairn Education CIC
Questions parents ask about Cairn Education CIC
What is Cairn Education CIC's Ofsted rating?
Cairn Education CIC's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2023, it was rated Good.
Does Cairn Education CIC meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in March 2026, Cairn Education CIC met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Cairn Education CIC?
Cairn Education CIC has around 10 pupils on roll.
Does Cairn Education CIC have specialist SEN provision?
Cairn Education CIC is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Cairn Education CIC?
Cairn Education CIC is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Cairn Education CIC?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cairn Education CIC?
Cairn Education CIC is at The Tavern, 63 Main Street, Cumbria, LA8 9LN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)