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EnglandCarlisle

Schools in Carlisle

Where the River Eden crosses the plain between the Lake District and the Pennines, Carlisle stands as the only city in Cumbria and the ancient seat of the Diocese, whose cathedral was founded in 1133. The city's garrison past is written into the stonework: Carlisle Castle, which held Mary, Queen of Scots in 1568, still anchors the northern edge of the centre beside the medieval walls. Today around 78,000 people live here.

Etterby, on the north bank of the Eden, is among the most sought-after pockets for primary catchments, while Dalston and Ivegill are well-established school-competitive villages south of the city boundary. Denton Holme and Durdar round out the urban residential fringe. Carlisle station reaches Newcastle via the Tyne Valley Line in around an hour and a quarter, and the Settle-Carlisle line runs south to Leeds.

Area Performance

Carlisle schools rank in the top 59% of England

Across 59 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.10/10, -0.31 vs England.

Find My School Inspection Band

2% Elite

Distribution across all Carlisle schools

19%
74%
EliteExcellentGoodDevelopingRebuilding

Carlisle vs England distribution

National Rank

Top 59%

Across all ranked Carlisle schools

Top 57%Primaryavg #8,544 of 14,978
Top 64%Secondaryavg #2,371 of 3,680
Top 65%Sixth formavg #1,535 of 2,376

Primary schools: 42 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.29 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,544
-7 pts vs medianmedian 7,489

top 57% of 14,978

% reaching expected RWM standardstate
60%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
7%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.29 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,544
-7 pts vs medianmedian 7,489

top 57% of 14,978

% reaching expected RWM standardstate
60%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
7%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%

Secondary schools: 8 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.0/10
-0.38 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,371
-14 pts vs medianmedian 1,840

top 64% of 3,680

% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
32%
-24 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
36.4
-2.7 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.0/10
-0.38 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,371
-14 pts vs medianmedian 1,840

top 64% of 3,680

% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
32%
-24 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
36.4
-2.7 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1

Sixth form schools: 9 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
-0.36 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,535
-15 pts vs medianmedian 1,188

top 65% of 2,376

% A*-A at A-Level
17%
-8 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
37%
-13 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
-0.36 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,535
-15 pts vs medianmedian 1,188

top 65% of 2,376

% A*-A at A-Level
17%
-8 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
37%
-13 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%

Overall Oxbridge

#1,272

3 ranked schools · -358 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,984

Applications

13

Offers

2

Offer rate15.4%
-7.0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%

Oxford

#287

2 ranked schools · -34 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,198

Applications

8

Offers

0

Offer rate0.0%
-15.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%

Cambridge

#736

2 ranked schools · +37 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,881

Applications

5

Offers

2

Offer rate40.0%
+10.6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
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