SchoolScoresRobert Ferguson Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
East Dale Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle, CA2 5LA
01228 535091 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 21 November 2017.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 18 January 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
38% — 18 points below the Cumberland average, and 24 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 38% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 62% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 42% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 60% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 51 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 50 |
| Of those, offered a place | 50 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 82 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 15th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.3% | 22.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 19th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.3% | 13.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.0% | 6.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 33rd lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 36th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 10.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 29th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 44% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 22nd lowest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 26th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 27% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.5 | 19.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 13th highest of 45 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 57% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.1 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 26th highest of 38 state primary schools in Carlisle. Higher than 21% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 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
- The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided) 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Caldew Lea School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brook Street Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newlaithes Junior School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newlaithes Infant School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Norman Street Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Upperby Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cummersdale School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Robert Ferguson Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Robert Ferguson Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 21 November 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 18 January 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Robert Ferguson Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 38% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 24 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Robert Ferguson Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 50 families put Robert Ferguson Primary School as their first choice for 51 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 50 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 112242.
- 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.