SchoolScoresHoughton CofE School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Jackson Road, Houghton, Carlisle, CA3 0PA
01228 593992 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 May 2026 , published 18 June 2026.
In short: 6 expected, 1 needs attention, 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
28 pupils in this year group.
68% — 12 points above the Cumberland average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 68% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 11% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 75% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 71% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 103 | 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 Cumberland. 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 | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 17 |
| Of those, offered a place | 17 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 63 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 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 | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 39th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 22.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 3rd highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.2% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 34th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.7% | 13.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 34th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 6.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 38th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 35th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 39% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.6% | 10.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 24th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 60% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 28th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 53% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 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) Joint 21st highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 37% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.0 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 29th highest of 38 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 13.4%* | 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
- Kingmoor Junior School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 3 expected, 2 needs attention · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kingmoor Nursery and Infant School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed, may be improving 2023
- Stanwix School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Blackford CofE Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 13% met expected standard (KS2)
- Norman Street Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Crosby-on-Eden CofE School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 88% met expected standard (KS2)
- Caldew Lea School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brook Street Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newtown Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Houghton CofE School's Ofsted rating?
Houghton CofE School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Houghton CofE School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Houghton CofE School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 17 families put Houghton CofE School as their first choice for 22 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 17 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 112250.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.