Longtown Primary School
107%
Capacity
202
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Longtown Primary School
Longtown Primary School sits in the middle of the pack academically when compared with other primaries in Cumberland. Its key stage 2 results for the 2023/24 school year show that 50% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is a touch below the local authority average of 54%. That said, the school’s maths and reading average scores of 103 and 104 respectively are both above the national benchmark of 100, suggesting that while fewer children are hitting the combined target, those who do are performing solidly. The school ranks 67th out of 111 primaries in Cumberland on this metric, placing it in the bottom half of the LA. It’s worth noting that the school is oversubscribed — 24 first-preference applications for 24 places in 2025/26, with 30 total applications — so local demand remains strong despite middling headline figures.
The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2019, rated it Good overall, with Good marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and the quality of education. This is a significant turnaround from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Inadequate. An ungraded inspection in March 2025 confirmed the school has improved significantly since then, though no new graded judgement was issued. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 97% of respondents would recommend the school, and 98% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. On academic expectations, 83% agreed or strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and 97% said their child does well. The school supports a range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, and autistic spectrum disorder, and 80% of parents with SEND children felt the school gives them the support they need.
Longtown Primary is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It currently has 202 pupils against a capacity of 189, so it is running slightly over capacity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 28.3%, above the national average. Facilities include music rooms, a dining hall, a forest school and an ICT suite, and the school offers a broad range of sports and clubs — from tennis and swimming to drama, art club and chess. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Anna Carroll. For families in Cumberland looking for a well-regarded local primary with strong pastoral care and a clear upward trajectory since its previous difficulties, Longtown is a solid option — particularly if you value a school where the vast majority of parents feel their child is happy, safe and well supported.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Mary Street, Carlisle, Cumberland, CA6 5UG |
| Headteacher | Anna Carroll |
| Local Authority | Cumberland |
| Number of Pupils | 202 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.3% |
| School Capacity | 202 / 189 (107% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Mar 2025): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (50%)
10628th of 13,686
Nationally
1556th of 2,065
In North West
67th of 111
In Cumberland
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
50%
Expected Standard
8%
Higher Standard
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
37 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
4Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed24
30
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
24 families put this school as their 1st choice (80% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.6%
- White (other)2.0%
- Mixed2.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Longtown Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Mary Street, Carlisle
Cumberland, CA6 5UG
Mary Street, Carlisle
Cumberland, CA6 5UG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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