Classpot

Caldew School

Cumberland, CA5 7NNSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2022
Progress 8
-0.19
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
183 1st-choice / 165 places
Ranking
#1,978
of 3,141 nationally

About Caldew School

If you're a parent weighing up Caldew School, the first thing you'll notice is that it's a popular choice locally. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 467 applications for 165 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.83, meaning nearly three families applied for every spot. Of those, 183 put it as their first preference, and 163 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a solid reputation among families in Cumberland. While the school doesn't publish a parent-view survey score, the sheer number of applications — more than double the places available — is a strong signal that many local parents see it as a good fit for their children. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Victoria Jackson, and it currently has capacity for 1,050 pupils, with 989 on roll.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressDalston, Carlisle, Cumberland, CA5 7NN
HeadteacherVictoria Jackson
Local AuthorityCumberland
Number of Pupils989
Free School Meals (FSM)19.7%
School Capacity989 / 1,050 (94% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 Jun 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
ICT SuiteSwimming PoolSports HallPlaying FieldsAstro TurfScience LabsSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

TennisBadmintonSwimmingMartial ArtsRowingCross Country

Clubs & Activities

Film ClubOrchestraChoirModel United NationsCodingDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced Provision

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

08:15-08:45

After-school care

15:15-16:30

Source: caldew.cumbria.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Caldew School

Caldew School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.