The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided)
Carlisle, CA2 4HG · Cumberland · primary school
Check the area around this school
92nd 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 — 1.0/10 against 1,144 of them, against 1.1/10 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 | 43.0 · 11 | 40% | 0.42 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided) overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2024. 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 (1.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils attend Geography Field Trips and a Robin Wood Residential, and a breakfast club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 139 pupils against a stated capacity of 240. 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 progress from the expected standard to the higher standard in core subjects? What specific support is offered during the transition to secondary school? How does the school integrate the findings from the 2024 inspection into its current teaching plans?
What Ofsted said about The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided)
Overview
The report describes a school where “pupils are happy” and “everybody is welcome,” fostering mature attitudes towards diversity. Leaders maintain “high expectations for pupils’ achievement,” which pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, successfully meet. The curriculum is “suitably balanced and ambitious,” with staff providing clear explanations and effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- The curriculum is well-designed, determining “the important knowledge that pupils should acquire” and incorporating local history.
- Staff deliver content with “clear explanations” and use effective strategies to check learning and identify gaps in most subjects.
- Reading is a strong priority, with “carefully chosen, high-quality texts” and engaging activities like author visits fostering a “love of reading.”
- Pupils benefit from enriching experiences, including residential trips and after-school clubs, while developing leadership skills through roles such as “librarians” and “house captains.”
- Governors offer “effective support and challenge,” and staff appreciate the school’s focus on their well-being and professional development.
Areas to improve
- In one or two subjects, teachers do not check if pupils have secured prior knowledge before introducing new information, which “limits some pupils in building a deep and rich body of knowledge.”
- “Too many pupils remain persistently absent,” causing them to miss out on learning and wider opportunities; the school must strengthen work with parents to reduce this.
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 | 44% |
| 2023/24 | 35% |
| 2024/25 | 43% |
| 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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