Mayfield School, Whitehaven
Mayfield School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Whitehaven. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2012)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Mayfield School in detail
Mayfield School in its own words
In its own words: "Mayfield School is a wonderful place to be where amazing things happen every day. Individual difference is celebrated. High expectations of behaviour and respect are expected and achieved."
From the headteacher's welcome: "This is a wonderful school, and I would like to thank you for taking the time to find out about Mayfield School. I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher of this outstanding school, and to work with such a fantastic staff team and wonderful pupils."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming, dance, drama, robotics, STEM, cooking, gardening and debating.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
48.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Mayfield School has an education, health and care plan (274 of 274 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Mayfield School has a SEN unit for severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 255 places, 255 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Corkickle Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Benedicts High School Grounds (at), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 38 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Mayfield School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its October 2012 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
48.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Latest from Mayfield School
Goodbye and Good Luck
17 Jul 2026
Cockermouth Fashion Show
7 Jul 2026
Bendrigg 2026
6 Jul 2026
Festival 2026
3 Jul 2026
Sports Day
25 Jun 2026
MOVE DAY 2026
24 Jun 2026
From Mayfield School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Mayfield School
Before and after school care
Mayfield School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Cumberland
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Mayfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Mayfield 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
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
107%
Over capacity
274 pupils
255 places
19 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Whitehaven
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Whitehaven
Across Cumberland council
Places available
3,164
Applications
2,751
Got 1st preference
95.3%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All secondary applications across Cumberland council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
274
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Mayfield School has a SEN unit for severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 255 places, 255 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
274
Total Pupils
192
Boys
82
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
38
Teachers
7.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,368
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.2%
Overall absence
23.3%
Persistent absence
210
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Mayfield School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Mayfield School
What are SATs results like at Mayfield School?
Of the pupils at Mayfield School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Mayfield School's Ofsted rating?
Mayfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2012, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Mayfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Mayfield School is oversubscribed, Cumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Mayfield School?
Mayfield School has around 274 pupils on roll. 49% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Mayfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Mayfield School has a SEN unit for severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 255 places, 255 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Mayfield School?
8.2% of sessions were missed at Mayfield School in 2024/25. 23.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Mayfield School?
Apply through Cumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming Mayfield School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Mayfield School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Mayfield School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Mayfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Mayfield School?
Mayfield School is at Campus Whitehaven, Red Lonning, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 8UG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)