Great Orton Primary School, Carlisle
Great Orton Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Carlisle. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2023. Its 2024 Key Stage 2 results were the 13th-highest of the 39 schools in Carlisle with published results, and 7,483rd of 13,912 across England. It was 61% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cumberland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Great Orton Primary School in detail
Great Orton Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Great Orton Primary School. We understand that choosing a Primary School for your child is an important decision. At Great Orton Primary School, our staff are committed to ensuring we get to know each child as an individual."
The school runs a breakfast club.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2024, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Great Orton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 68% in Cumberland and 76% and 74% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Great Orton Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 7 families put Great Orton Primary School as their first choice and 15 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Great Orton Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Great Orton Primary School are Kirkbampton CofE School (2 miles, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths); Wiggonby CofE School (2.1 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); Thursby Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 79% reading, 79% maths); and Yewdale School (2.7 miles, Good, 76% reading, 71% maths).
Kirkbampton CofE SchoolWiggonby CofE SchoolThursby Primary SchoolYewdale School
Who goes there
42.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 7 pupils (20%) received SEN support and 3 (8.6%) 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 autism.
Staffing
Great Orton Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Village Hall (outside), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Great Orton Primary School issued 1 suspension, 3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
42.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
Class Sizes
11.7
Avg class size
11.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Great Orton Primary School
Term dates
Great Orton Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Cumberland. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Friday 16 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Great Orton Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Great Orton Primary School is in Cumberland; for families living there:
- Cumberland's school travel policy: Step by step guide of the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Cumberland is 5 (the median across 179 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
Your chances of a place at Great Orton Primary School
Will you get a place at Great Orton Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Great Orton Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Great Orton Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Great Orton Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cumberland, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Great Orton Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Cumberland 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
61%
Available places
34 pupils
56 places
22 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Carlisle
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Carlisle
Across Cumberland council
Places available
3,537
Applications
2,352
Got 1st preference
98.2%
Got preferred school
99.7%
All primary applications across Cumberland council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
28.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
35
Total Pupils
22
Boys
13
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
8.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,833
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£11,669
Per pupil
£446k
Total funding
£21k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.9%
Overall absence
23.3%
Persistent absence
30
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Great Orton Primary School
What are SATs results like at Great Orton Primary School?
Of the pupils at Great Orton Primary School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 60% reached the expected standard in reading and 90% did so in maths.
What is Great Orton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Great Orton Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Great Orton Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Great Orton Primary School is oversubscribed, Cumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Great Orton Primary School?
Great Orton Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 61% of its 56 places.
How big are the classes at Great Orton Primary School?
Classes at Great Orton Primary School average 11.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Great Orton Primary School?
Great Orton Primary School has around 35 pupils on roll. 43% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Great Orton Primary School?
8.9% of sessions were missed at Great Orton Primary School in 2024/25. 23.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Great Orton Primary School?
Apply through Cumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming Great Orton 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.
What are Great Orton Primary School's term dates?
Great Orton Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Cumberland. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Friday 16 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Great Orton Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Cumberland is 5 (the median across 179 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Great Orton Primary School?
Great Orton Primary School is at Great Orton, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA5 6NA.
Sources: Cumberland term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)