Lift Caldicotes

About Lift Caldicotes

Lift Caldicotes, a state primary in Middlesbrough, stands out for its strong academic performance against the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, comfortably above the Middlesbrough average of 62%. This places the school 13th out of 37 primaries in the borough, putting it in the top 35% locally and the top 30% nationally. The school’s ranking score of 70 also puts it within the top 50 of its tier. While it doesn’t match the top performers like St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary or Lingfield Primary, it clearly outperforms the typical Middlesbrough primary, making it a solid choice for families prioritising core academic outcomes.

Digging into the detail, the school’s maths performance is a particular strength. The average maths score was 104, and 78% of pupils reached the expected standard, with 15% achieving a higher standard. Reading was slightly lower, with an average score of 102 and 70% at the expected level, though 26% reached the higher standard. Writing saw 74% at the expected level but only 7% at the higher end. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2024 judged it Good overall, with an Outstanding rating for early years provision. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated Good. This is a consistent improvement from its previous Good rating in 2012, and the early years rating is particularly notable given only two primaries in Middlesbrough hold an Outstanding overall grade.

Lift Caldicotes is a popular school, oversubscribed for 2025/26 with 36 applications for 26 places, and 25 of those offers going to first-preference families. It serves a community with high levels of disadvantage — 64.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school offers a nursery provision for children aged two and up, and its facilities include a library, ICT suite, music rooms, a forest school, sports hall, gymnasium, and even a chapel. SEND support covers specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech and language communication needs. With a range of sports from football to cross country, and clubs like gardening and eco club, this is a well-resourced primary that suits families looking for strong academic results in a supportive, inclusive setting.

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