Blackford CofE Primary School

About Blackford CofE Primary School

Blackford CofE Primary School is a small Church of England primary in Cumberland, one of 144 state primary schools across the local authority. With just 54 pupils on roll and a capacity of 56, it operates at near-full occupancy, and its size places it among the more intimate settings in the area. In the local landscape, it sits alongside peers such as Jericho Primary School, Irthington Village School and Shankhill CofE Primary School, which rank among the highest-scoring primaries in Cumberland. The school is led by headteacher Lindsey Slater and offers nursery provision for children from age three, making it a natural choice for families looking for a single setting from the earliest years through to the end of primary. Its Church of England character is reflected in the presence of a chapel on site, and the school’s facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, an ICT suite, art studios and a sensory room.

Academically, Blackford CofE Primary School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections, with the latest graded inspection taking place in 2024. The Ofsted report awarded Good across all five graded categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school’s overall effectiveness was not judged in the most recent inspection, as is standard for schools that remain Good. While the data does not include specific Key Stage 2 SATs results for the school, the local authority average for KS2 attainment sits at 54, providing a benchmark for parents to consider when comparing outcomes. The school’s parent view survey, based on 14 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows exceptionally strong satisfaction: 100% of respondents would recommend the school, and every parent strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe.

For families considering Blackford, the admissions picture is competitive. For the 2025/26 intake, the school offered 6 places and received 16 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.67, with all 6 first-preference applicants receiving offers. This suggests strong local demand for a small, well-regarded village school. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, and speech, language and communication needs, though the parent view data shows no responses on whether SEND children receive adequate support, so families with specific needs may wish to discuss this directly with the school. Clubs include book club, art club, science club and drama, and the sports programme covers football, cricket, netball and tennis. With its chapel, sensory room and strong pastoral ratings, Blackford CofE Primary School is best suited to families who value a close-knit, faith-based primary with a clear track record of parental satisfaction and a firm Good rating from Ofsted.

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