Houghton CofE School, Carlisle

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Houghton CofE School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate view of the curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children settle quickly in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders quickly and accurately identify pupils' needs."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and the areas that need further improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have built a clear and coherent personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, some pupils have not achieved well enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to evaluate the progress of disadvantaged pupils closely so that additional support is timely, focused on the right aspects and helps them achieve well across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum, and the way it is taught, enables pupils to address gaps in foundational knowledge, particularly in writing, so that more pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education"; "Leaders should ensure that those responsible for governance receive precise information about the impact of the pupil premium strategy so they can support and challenge leaders effectively to further improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a single-form entry primary school set in the heart of Houghton village and, with 190 pupils on roll. We have recently celebrated 60 years of education on this site, but the original school dates much further back.....the school dates back to 1841 where a tiny school was built by the Church of England next to St John's Church."

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Houghton CofE School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Cumberland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (72% in reading, 72% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 17 families put Houghton CofE School as their first choice and 63 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 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 Houghton CofE School are Kingmoor Junior School (1.2 miles, Good, 80% reading, 73% maths); Kingmoor Nursery and Infant School (1.2 miles, Good); Stanwix School (1.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 74% maths); and Blackford CofE Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 50% reading, 38% maths).

Houghton CofE School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

5.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 9 pupils (5%) received SEN support and 14 (7.8%) 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.

Houghton CofE School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stores (near), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Houghton CofE 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 37 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and drug offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Houghton CofE School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.