Houghton CofE School

About Houghton CofE School

Houghton CofE School sits within the Cumberland local authority, a Church of England primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11. Among the 144 primary schools in the LA, it ranks 37th, placing it comfortably in the top third. The top-performing peers locally are Jericho Primary School, Irthington Village School, and Shankhill CofE Primary School, each with higher ranking scores. Houghton itself is a relatively small school, with 183 pupils against a capacity of 210, and it is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, 85 families applied for 30 places, with 35 of those applications as first preferences. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation. The school is led by headteacher Stephen Johnston and was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2012, with a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2022 confirming it remains Good.

Academically, Houghton’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year show 62% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is above the Cumberland LA average of 54%, and the school’s overall ranking score of 62 places it in the bottom 50 nationally but in the 33rd percentile locally — a solid middle-ground performance. In individual subjects, 72% met expectations in reading, 72% in writing, and 72% in maths. At the higher standard, 7% achieved the top level across all three subjects, with 24% reaching higher in reading, 21% in maths, and 14% in writing. Average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 105 in maths. The school’s Ofsted history shows improvement: its 2009 inspection rated it Requires Improvement overall, but by 2012 it had moved to Good, where it has held steady.

The school offers a range of facilities including music rooms, a sports hall, art studios, a dining hall and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, tennis, gymnastics, cricket, netball, swimming and dance, while clubs include gardening, drama and choir. For pupils with additional needs, the school lists SEND support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 6% of pupils eligible for free school meals — below the national average — the school draws from a relatively advantaged catchment. Given its oversubscription, families should apply early. This is a school that suits those seeking a faith-based primary with solid but not exceptional results, strong local demand, and a broad extracurricular offer in a rural or semi-rural Cumberland setting.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Houghton CofE School

Helpful Guides for Parents