Caldew Lea School, Carlisle

In its own words: "Our CET shared values of ‘ Respect , Responsibility and Resilience ’ are the foundation of all we do in school."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Caldew Lea is an exceptional, thriving primary school based right at the heart of west Carlisle. Our school has a proud tradition of educating and inspiring the children of west Carlisle (and beyond) for over 125 years."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils at Caldew Lea School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Cumberland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 72% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Caldew Lea School as their first choice and 47 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Caldew Lea School are St Bede's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths); Newtown Primary School (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 67% reading, 61% maths); Robert Ferguson Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 62% reading, 60% maths); and Newlaithes Junior School (0.9 miles, Good, 70% reading, 63% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Caldew Lea School.

Caldew Lea School is one of 17 schools run by Cumbria Education Trust, an academy trust.

36.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (51%), Black (15%) and Asian (13%).

In 2026, 15 pupils (5.5%) received SEN support and 15 (5.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1200 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Port Road Garage (at), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Caldew Lea School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 406 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Caldew Lea School issued 3 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Caldew Lea School are Trinity School (0.8 miles), Richard Rose Central Academy (1.1 miles) and Richard Rose Morton Academy (1.2 miles).