SchoolScoresCairn Education CIC
Independent special school · Secondary, ages 11 to 25 · Mixed
The Tavern, 63 Main Street, Staveley, Cumbria, LA8 9LN
01539 822304 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 17 March 2026 , published 3 July 2026.
In short: 6 strong, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
At its last standard inspection the school met all of the independent school standards, the legal requirements every independent school must meet.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted non-association independent schools inspection data.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 100% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 100% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 92% | 78% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 12 parents of children with SEND | 100% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 100%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 100%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
We don't show GCSE or primary results for independent schools. DfE's tables often leave out the IGCSEs and other qualifications many independent schools use, so their published figures can look far lower than pupils' real results. Ask the school for its results.
Admissions
Independent schools run their own admissions and set their own fees. Contact the school directly.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round.
| Pupils | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 0.0% | 48.4%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.7%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.3%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | Not published | 2.6%* | 14.4% |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Questions parents ask
What is Cairn Education CIC's Ofsted rating?
Cairn Education CIC was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 17 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.
Would parents recommend Cairn Education CIC?
100% of the 12 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Cairn Education CIC to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 148796.
- Inspections: Ofsted non-association independent schools management information, data to 31 July 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.