St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle, Carlisle
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has taken decisive action to improve teaching, particularly in reading where a new phonics programme is helping pupils learn more consistently. Leadership is now stronger and more stable, and staff are well-supported and committed to helping the school improve. The school is also working with outside experts to better support children in early years and pupils with special educational needs.
Key Strengths
- Teaching of reading has improved significantly with a new phonics programme and consistent staff training
- Leadership team has been strengthened and is beginning to drive meaningful improvements
- Staff are engaged and committed to the school's recovery, with good support for their well-being
- Governance has become stronger with clearer understanding of roles and better challenge and support
- Early years provision is beginning to improve with better structures and routines
Areas for Improvement
- Reading fluency remains an issue - pupils can decode but lack confidence and speed
- Teaching in subjects beyond reading is inconsistent and at a very early stage of improvement
- Large gaps in pupils' basic skills in writing and mathematics are hindering their progress
- Support for pupils with SEND relies too heavily on additional adults rather than building independence
- Pupils often lack the foundational knowledge needed before learning new content in subjects
Safeguarding
No safeguarding findings were reported in this monitoring inspection.
St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School is in special measures and has made some progress in improving since October 2024, particularly in reading. However, more work is necessary before the school can be removed from special measures, especially in other subjects and support for pupils with SEND.
At a Glance
28.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
42 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 84% to 59%. Maths has declined from 81% to 66%. Writing has declined from 84% to 62%.
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
217 pupils
238 capacity
21 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Carlisle
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Carlisle
Admissions Demand - Cumberland
Places available
3,571
Applications
2,437
Got 1st preference
98.5%
Got preferred school
99.7%
Primary admissions across Cumberland (2025/26)
Inspection History(3)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.28016%
Overall absence
11.60221%
Persistent absence
181
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle
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