Lorton School, Cockermouth
Lorton School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Cockermouth, part of The Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 7 schools in Cockermouth with published results, and 11,322nd of 14,452 across England. It was 64% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- 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 Cumberland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lorton School in detail
Lorton School in its own words
In its own words: ""Pupils enjoy attending this small and nurturing school. They are happy." - Ofsted 2025 "Many pupils achieve well and are ready for the next stage of their education." - Ofsted 2025 "Pupils take pride in the impact they have through these responsibilities." - Ofsted 2025"
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Lorton School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Cumberland and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 50% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Lorton School
For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Lorton School as their first choice and 16 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 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 Lorton School are Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy (3.4 miles, Good, 89% reading, 93% maths); All Saints' CofE School (3.7 miles); All Saints' CofE School (3.7 miles, Good, 45% reading, 42% maths); and Fairfield Primary School (3.9 miles, Good, 85% reading, 92% maths).
Lorton School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary AcademyAll Saints' CofE SchoolAll Saints' CofE SchoolFairfield Primary School
The trust
Lorton School is one of 13 schools run by The Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lorton School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
4.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (73%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 9 pupils (20%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Staffing
Lorton School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 6 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Lorton School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (outside), 140 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
Lorton 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 multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from February 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This small school creates a warm, caring environment where children thrive and are happy to attend. The school prioritises reading and provides targeted support to help struggling readers catch up quickly. Pupils develop strong leadership skills and engage in wonderful outdoor learning experiences, including growing their own food and overnight countryside trips.
Key Strengths
- Pupils enjoy attending and form trusting bonds with staff and each other
- Strong focus on reading with well-matched books and effective phonics teaching that helps pupils catch up quickly
- Broad and engaging curriculum that builds logically from early years through Year 6
- Pupils show excellent behaviour, politeness and take pride in leadership roles
- Range of enriching experiences including outdoor activities, growing food, and overnight countryside stays
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always identify gaps in pupils' learning or adapt teaching to help pupils overcome these gaps in some subjects
- For a small number of pupils with SEND, curriculum delivery is not consistently adapted well enough
- School evaluation systems for checking curriculum delivery are not always used effectively, meaning some inconsistencies are not addressed quickly
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, singing events, outdoor activities, countryside overnight stays, charity fundraising
Lorton School is a small, nurturing primary school where pupils are happy and form strong relationships with staff. The school has maintained good standards since its previous inspection and continues to develop its curriculum and support for pupils with additional needs.
At a Glance
4.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
19 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 50% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 33% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
15.0
Avg class size
13.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Lorton School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Lorton School.
- Lorton After School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Term dates
Lorton School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Cumberland's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lorton School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lorton 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)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 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 Lorton School
Will you get a place at Lorton School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Lorton School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Lorton School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Lorton School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cumberland, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Lorton School for 2017 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
64%
Available places
45 pupils
70 places
25 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Cockermouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cockermouth
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
20.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
45
Total Pupils
23
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
6.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,696
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,727
Per pupil
£425k
Total funding
£3k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
10.0%
Persistent absence
40
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Lorton School
What are SATs results like at Lorton School?
Of the pupils at Lorton School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Lorton School's Ofsted rating?
Lorton School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Lorton School?
No fixed boundary. When Lorton 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 Lorton School?
Lorton School was not full in 2025: it ran at 64% of its 70 places.
How big are the classes at Lorton School?
Classes at Lorton School average 15 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Lorton School?
Lorton School has around 45 pupils on roll. 4% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Lorton School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at Lorton School in 2024/25. 10% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lorton School?
Apply through Cumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming Lorton 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 Lorton School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Lorton After School Club (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 Lorton School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Cumberland is 5 (the median across 179 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lorton School?
Lorton School is at High Lorton, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9UL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)