Blackford CofE Primary School
Carlisle, CA6 4ES · Cumberland · primary school
Check the area around this school
119th of 119 primary schools in Cumberland we can score, 145 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.0/10 against 3,750 of them, against 0.4/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 13.0 · 0 | 62% | 0.03 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 38% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Blackford CofE Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 13.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 60 pupils against a stated capacity of 56. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
Given the significant difference between the school’s 13.0% expected standard rate and the national 64%, what specific support is provided to pupils who are not meeting these benchmarks?
What Ofsted said about Blackford CofE Primary School
Overview
Pupils “flourish in this happy, nurturing school” where they develop strong bonds with staff and settle quickly. The school maintains “high expectations for pupils’ achievement” and fosters positive attitudes towards learning, with pupils demonstrating respect and cooperation. Inspectors found that the school provides a rich curriculum and effective support for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- The school has a “rich and ambitious curriculum” with carefully considered sequencing, particularly in mixed-age classes.
- “Reading is at the heart of this school,” with staff ensuring pupils access diverse texts and a phonics programme that helps children learn sounds and letters well.
- Staff identify the additional needs of pupils with SEND “quickly and accurately” and make effective adaptations to ensure they access the curriculum alongside peers.
- Pupils demonstrate “positive attitudes to learning” and are “aspirational for the future,” achieving well across a wide range of subjects.
- Governors “know the school well” and provide effective support and challenge, while staff morale remains high.
Areas to improve
- The school should ensure that new curriculums in a small number of subjects are “firmly embedded” so that pupils develop a “secure body of knowledge.”
- Currently, activities in these subjects do not always help pupils understand key knowledge, meaning some pupils’ knowledge is “not as secure as it could be.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2024/25 | 13% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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