Carnforth School, Worcester

Ofsted's report card from its 17 March 2026 inspection grades Carnforth 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.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children make a very successful start to their education at Carnforth."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils progress well from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have improved attendance rates for many different groups of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the learning of pupils who may face barriers to their learning from the outset."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders carefully consider how to improve the outcomes of the most vulnerable pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the education of the whole child at Carnforth."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should sustain the improvements in attendance rates by continuing to analyse patterns closely, acting promptly where concerns arise and working with families whose children are persistently absent"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen teachers' use of assessment to understand where pupils have made errors in to order to address gaps in pupils' learning".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby and dance.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Carnforth School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Worcestershire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 68% in reading and 54% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Carnforth School as their first choice and 32 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Carnforth School are Oasis Academy Warndon (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 80% reading, 79% maths); Cranham Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 81% reading, 73% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Worcester (0.5 miles, 77% reading, 75% maths); and Hollymount School (0.5 miles, Good, 76% reading, 80% maths).

Carnforth School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Carnforth School is one of 8 schools run by The Black Pear Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 58% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

49.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 32 pupils (18%) received SEN support and 13 (7.3%) 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.

Carnforth School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Worcester Shrub Hill Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Red Dial Parade (adjacent), 210 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Carnforth School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 352 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Worcestershire (78), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Carnforth School issued 6 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Carnforth School are Tudor Grange Academy Worcester (0.7 miles), Bishop Perowne CofE College (1 mile) and Nunnery Wood High School (1.6 miles).