Richard Rose Central Academy
Carlisle, CA1 1LY · Cumberland · secondary school
Check the area around this school
11th of 19 secondary schools in Cumberland we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.5/10 against 728 of them, against 2.8/10 nationally. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 36.8 · 29 | 46% | 1.35 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.33 · 25 | 38% | 0.97 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 42.4 · 31 | 15% | 0.48 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Richard Rose Central Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.33 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Student Government and Sports leaders, alongside athletics, rounders, football, cricket, and tennis.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,035 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,450. 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific interventions are in place for students who have shown negative progress scores?
What Ofsted said about Richard Rose Central Academy
Overview
Richard Rose Central Academy is described as a place where pupils are happy, behave extremely well, and wear their uniform with pride. The report highlights that the quality of education has "vastly improved" since the previous inspection, with staff applying behaviour policies consistently and pupils building a "secure foundation of knowledge." Leaders and staff are praised for their determination and for rigorously evaluating what is working well to drive forward improvement.
Strengths
- Pupils are respectful, listen attentively, and follow instructions quickly, resulting in "rarely any disruption to learning."
- The curriculum is "extremely well-thought-out" and carefully designed to provide pupils with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed.
- Teachers possess strong subject knowledge, communicate clearly, and swiftly address misconceptions to fill gaps in pupils’ knowledge.
- Effective support is in place for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who "learn well."
- Sixth-form students act as "excellent role models," supporting younger pupils through initiatives like reading buddies.
Areas to improve
- In a few subjects, teaching approaches and activity choices do not sufficiently help pupils deepen their learning or build independence.
- There are inconsistencies in promoting opportunities for pupils to express themselves orally, meaning some lack the confidence to engage in discussions and debates.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.7 |
| 2024/25 | 42.3 |
| 2025/26 | 42.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 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
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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