Richard Rose Central Academy, Carlisle

In 2026, pupils at Richard Rose Central Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 40.4 in Cumberland and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 32% in Cumberland and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 42.3.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.33: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.7, against 47.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 227 families put Richard Rose Central Academy as their first choice and 443 named it as one of their preferences, for 201 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 35 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Richard Rose Central Academy are Trinity School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.4); St John Henry Newman Catholic School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.9); Richard Rose Morton Academy (2.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 41.5); and Caldew School (4.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.5).

Richard Rose Central Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Richard Rose Central Academy is one of 98 schools run by United Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49 in 2024/25.

93 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Richard Rose Central Academy (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (70%).

Of the 222 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 45% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

Of the 42 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 24% went on to university or other higher education, 17% to apprenticeships and 36% into work. 7% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 110 pupils (10.6%) received SEN support and 24 (2.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 830 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Richard Rose Central Academy (at), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 406 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Richard Rose Central Academy issued 201 suspensions, 19.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Richard Rose Central Academy are Norman Street Primary School (0.4 miles); Brook Street Primary School (0.5 miles); St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle (0.8 miles); and Stanwix School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.