SchoolScoresHigh Hesket CofE School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
High Hesket, Carlisle, CA4 0HU
01697 473386 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 4 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Carlisle comparisons use the 20 of its 45 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 25 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Carlisle | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 97% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 97% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 37 parents who had raised a concern Joint 6th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 88% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 94% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 34%). 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. Carlisle figures pool parents at the Carlisle schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
23 pupils in this year group.
52% — 6 points below the Westmorland and Furness average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 52% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 9% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 65% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 65% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 61% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Westmorland and Furness. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 12 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 10 |
| Of those, offered a place | 10 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 34 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 45th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 16.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 38th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 4.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 28th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.6% | 13.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 25th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 5.4%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 4.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 8.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 36th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 30th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 49% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 30th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 21% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.8 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 78% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.5 | 9.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 38 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 48% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.8% | 13.3%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * 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; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Armathwaite School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Calthwaite CofE School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), improved significantly 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is High Hesket CofE School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 4 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did High Hesket CofE School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 52% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend High Hesket CofE School?
100% of the 48 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend High Hesket CofE School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is High Hesket CofE School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 10 families put High Hesket CofE School as their first choice for 12 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 10 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 112248.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.