Cummersdale School, Carlisle

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Cummersdale School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a culture where regular attendance at school is the norm."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils benefit from a thoughtfully designed programme that fosters pupils' personal development very well."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Generally, pupils gain the basic skills and knowledge that they need to learn successfully."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that prioritises communication and basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise a positive start for children who join the school in the Reception Year."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders accurately identify the social and academic needs of individual pupils when they join the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors understand the context of the school and the community that it serves."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to improve pupils' basic writing and handwriting skills so that they can write with greater fluency and confidence"; "Leaders should ensure that all foundation subjects are taught consistently well so that pupils learn the curriculum in sufficient depth"; "Leaders and governors should continue to develop their systems to check the school's work so that they can take more timely action to improve pupils' achievement".

In its own words: "We exist to give the children of Cummersdale School a first class education, preparing them with skills which will see them for secondary schools and beyond ensuring that they have lasting memories of their time at primary school. We aim to ensure that the children at Cummersdale School achieve success."

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

The school runs after-school care, from £3.00 per session.

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Cummersdale School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Cumberland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 56% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put Cummersdale School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Cummersdale School are Newlaithes Junior School (0.9 miles, Good, 70% reading, 63% maths); Newlaithes Infant School (0.9 miles, Good); Robert Ferguson Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 62% reading, 60% maths); and St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle (1.2 miles, 59% reading, 66% maths).

Cummersdale School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

15.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 7 pupils (7.2%) received SEN support and 1 (1%) 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 Carlisle Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cummersdale School (near), 50 metres away.

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

In August 2026, police recorded 95 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22), as is usual near a town centre.

Cummersdale School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.