Overall Oxbridge
#1,272
3 ranked schools · -358 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
13
Offers
2
Offer rate15.4%
-7.0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
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.
44
Primary
schools
6
Secondary
schools
2
All-through
schools
2
Special
schools
2
Other
schools
of which9sixth forms·18faith56 total
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 7.09/10, -0.33 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
2% Elite
Distribution across all Carlisle schools
EliteExcellentGoodDevelopingRebuilding
Carlisle vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 59%
Across all ranked Carlisle schools
Top 57%Primaryavg #8,559 of 14,978
Top 65%Secondaryavg #2,525 of 3,861
Top 64%Sixth formavg #1,635 of 2,554
Primary schools: 42 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.0/10
-0.31 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,559
-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
7.0/10
-0.31 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,559
-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
#2,525
-15 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 65% of 3,861
% 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
#2,525
-15 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 65% of 3,861
% 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
#1,635
-14 pts vs medianmedian 1,277
top 64% of 2,554
% 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
#1,635
-14 pts vs medianmedian 1,277
top 64% of 2,554
% 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%
Oxford
#287
2 ranked schools · -34 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
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 1,880
Applications
5
Offers
2
Offer rate40.0%
+10.6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Carlisle
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Carlisle
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Carlisle
Local directory
School profiles in Carlisle
Browse 52 local profile links across primary schools and secondary schools. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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