Richard Rose Morton Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST

Wigton Road, Carlisle, CA2 6LB

01228 822644 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 1 July 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths34%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 25% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils905Room for 900 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 645 in 2019, 814 in 2021, 866 in 2022, 870 in 2023, 894 in 2024, 883 in 2025, 905 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1181 for 171 places, September 2026
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 69% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 1 July 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

139 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Carlisle comparisons use the 3 of its 5 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 2 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.

StatementThis schoolCarlisleEngland
My child is happy at this school
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle.
Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
73% 77% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle.
Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 82% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle.
Higher than 32% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 73% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 66 parents whose child had been bullied
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle.
Higher than 37% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 51% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 125 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle.
Higher than 37% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
65% 69% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 37 parents of children with SEND
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle.
Higher than 17% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
43% 50% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Carlisle.
Higher than 32% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71%said yes 73% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

172 pupils in this year group.

34% — 3 points below the Cumberland average, and 12 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCumberlandEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 34% 37% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 43.4 42.3 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.6 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 30%This school 2023/24: 36%This school 2024/25: 34% This school England 45% 2022/23 30% 2023/24 36% 2024/25 34%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

147 pupils in this year group.

87% — 4 points below the Cumberland average, and 5 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 24%39%14%10%10%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCumberlandEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 87% 91% 92%
School sixth form 24% 37% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 39% 36% 37%
Apprenticeship 14% 12% 3%
Work 10% 5% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%87%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered171
Families who put it first181
Of those, offered a place163 (90%)
Families who listed it at all272

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Cumberland

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCumberlandEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
25.7% 25.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.1% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.6% 14.6%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.9% 5.0%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Lower than 59% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.9% 8.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Lower than 84% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
15.7% 23.3%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Lower than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.9 17.9 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Lower than 55% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.1% 6.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils 0.57% 0.18% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 36% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.2 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.2 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Carlisle.
Higher than 20% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
8.5% 14.9%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Richard Rose Morton Academy's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 1 July 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Richard Rose Morton Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 34% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Richard Rose Morton Academy?

71% of the 139 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Richard Rose Morton Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Richard Rose Morton Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 181 families put Richard Rose Morton Academy as their first choice for 171 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 163 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.