Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School, Carnforth
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Carnforth. It has a Church of England religious character. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, ended in a report card: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2013. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 14 schools in Carnforth with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 75% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted report card
- 1 of 7 areas strong or better
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lancashire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils are proud of their school and help to make it a welcoming place."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils develop the knowledge and skills that are set out in the curriculum."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils attend well."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that subject curriculums build logically from the early years to Year 6."
Early years - Expected standard. "The early years curriculum is well designed to build on what children already know."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "This is an inclusive school where all pupils are viewed as individuals."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have an accurate view of the school."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff routinely address pupils' misconceptions and reinforce accurate handwriting and letter formation. This should enable pupils to secure the foundational knowledge they need to achieve more highly across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that activities are consistently well designed to build on pupils' prior knowledge and provide purposeful opportunities for pupils to rehearse and apply key concepts. This will help pupils, including the youngest learners, to make stronger connections and deepen their understanding over time".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (81% in reading, 69% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School are Carnforth Community Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 71% reading, 50% maths); Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Carnforth (0.2 miles, 69% reading, 62% maths); Warton Archbishop Hutton's VC Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 55% reading, 36% maths); and Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths).
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Carnforth Community Primary SchoolOur Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, CarnforthWarton Archbishop Hutton's VC Primary SchoolOver Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School
Who goes there
15.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 17 pupils (15%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Carnforth Rail Station, about 250 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Market Street, 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 39 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).
Suspensions and exclusions
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Early yearsExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School
Everyone feels valued and included at this school. Pupils enter the school with enthusiasm each morning and attend regularly. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and positive. Pupils are confident about speaking to a trusted adult if they have any worries, and they know that staff care about them and will offer help when needed. This helps pupils to feel safe. Pupils enjoy their lessons and they achieve well. Those who face barriers to their learning, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are supported effectively to make progress through the curriculum and to aim high. Pupils embody the school's values, which include ‘love, patience, and self-control'. Pupils know how these relate to their own experiences. For example, they appreciate the importance of treating everyone equally and with kindness. Pupils know that bullying is not acceptable. Bullying is rare, and leaders deal with any cases effectively. Pupils' behaviour is positive. Children in the early years settle quickly and learn to follow the school rules and routines. Classrooms are typically calm and purposeful places. Pupils show interest in their learning and listen well in lessons. Lunchtimes are sociable occasions where pupils enjoy being with their friends. The school provides pupils with a particularly wide range of activities, events and experiences that enrich their lives. Pupils benefit from educational visits to local museums and landmarks. These experiences bring their classroom learning to life. Pupils develop their interests and try new things in different school clubs and in sports competitions with other schools. They develop their sporting talents and their musical talents, such as through music lessons and singing in the choir. Pupils enjoy helping others and embrace opportunities to contribute to the wider life of the school through a range of roles, such as playleaders, house captains and worship buddies. These opportunities develop their confidence and prepare them for life in modern Britain.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that staff routinely address pupils' misconceptions and reinforce accurate handwriting and letter formation. This should enable pupils to secure the foundational knowledge they need to achieve more highly across the curriculum.
- Leaders should ensure that activities are consistently well designed to build on pupils' prior knowledge and provide purposeful opportunities for pupils to rehearse and apply key concepts. This will help pupils, including the youngest learners, to make stronger connections and deepen their understanding over time.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 2 June 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Pupils thrive in a caring, inclusive environment where kindness and respect are central to school life. The school excels at providing diverse enrichment opportunities and preparing children exceptionally well for secondary school. Staff know each child as an individual and work effectively with families to support every learner's wellbeing and progress.
Key Strengths
- Pupils feel safe and are well-supported with effective safeguarding practices
- Strong personal development programme preparing pupils extremely well for their future
- Excellent relationships and behaviour, with low-level disruption and rare bullying
- Wide range of enrichment clubs, trips and sporting competitions that build confidence and resilience
- Inclusive approach where all pupils, including those with special needs, receive well-targeted support
Areas for Improvement
- Multiplication tables check outcomes have been below national averages for 2 years, though effective action is underway
- Teaching does not always help pupils tackle errors and misconceptions, particularly in writing
- Some activities designed by staff are not as helpful as they could be for learning the curriculum well
- Early years staff sometimes do not provide practice support as quickly as needed for key skills
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open, positive culture where all staff take responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, trips, inter-school sporting competitions, online safety education, cultural events exploration
Carnforth Christ Church is a welcoming primary school where pupils are proud to belong and feel safe. The school provides a broad, inclusive education with strong personal development and effective support for all learners.
At a Glance
15.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 81% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 69% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 88% to 69% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.6
Avg class size
20.5
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
5
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School.
- Happy Minds at Carnforth PrimaryAt the school · Not yet graded
Term dates
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Lancashire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 21
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 14 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 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
Will you get a place at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lancashire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lancashire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
75%
Available places
117 pupils
157 places
40 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Carnforth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Carnforth
Across Lancashire council
Places available
15,442
Applications
12,122
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
15.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
113
Total Pupils
51
Boys
62
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
16.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,399
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,783
Per pupil
£735k
Total funding
£29k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.4%
Overall absence
11.7%
Persistent absence
111
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School
Questions parents ask about Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School
What are SATs results like at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Of the pupils at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 75% of its 157 places.
How big are the classes at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Classes at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School average 22.6 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School has around 113 pupils on roll. 16% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
4.4% of sessions were missed at Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School in 2024/25. 11.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Happy Minds at Carnforth Primary (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 14 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School is at North Road, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9LJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)