Oughterside Primary School

About Oughterside Primary School

Oughterside Primary School is a small state primary in Cumberland, with 60 pupils on roll against a capacity of 84, meaning it is operating at just over 70% of its maximum. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 40%, which is notably high compared with the national average for primary schools in England, typically around 23-24%. This context matters because the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage, yet it remains in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions round, Oughterside received 10 applications for just 4 available places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.5 to 1. All four first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while the school is popular locally, it is not yet heavily oversubscribed beyond its immediate catchment. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for children aged 2 to 11, with nursery provision available.

Academically, Oughterside’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it Good across all five graded categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision, and leadership and management. This represents a consistent performance, as the school also held a Good rating in its previous inspection in 2013. At Key Stage 2, 56% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just above the Cumberland local authority average of 54%. However, no pupils achieved the higher standard in any of the three subjects. Individual subject results show 78% of pupils met expectations in both maths and writing, and 67% in reading. Average scaled scores were 104 in maths and 102 in reading. Nationally, Oughterside ranks in the bottom 50% of primary schools on the KS2 combined measure, sitting at the 67th percentile.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, outdoor playground and art studios, and runs clubs such as gardening, drama, choir and science club. Sports provision covers tennis, gymnastics, swimming, dance, netball and cricket. For families with children who have additional needs, Oughterside has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is not a boarding school and has no sixth form, as it is a primary. Given its small size, strong local demand, and above-average FSM intake, Oughterside is likely to suit families who value a close-knit, community-focused setting within the Cumberland area, particularly those whose children may benefit from the school’s identified SEND support.

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