Raughton Head CofE School & Nursery

About Raughton Head CofE School & Nursery

Raughton Head CofE School & Nursery holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent graded inspection in 2019 and its latest ungraded inspection in December 2024, which noted that the school had improved significantly. With just 74 pupils on roll, this small Church of England primary in Cumberland operates well above its stated capacity of 42, suggesting strong local demand. The most telling academic metric comes from the school's Key Stage 2 results, which place it among the top performers in the local authority. While the exact school-level score isn't provided in the data, its ranking alongside peers like Jericho Primary School and Irthington Village School indicates outcomes comfortably above the Cumberland average of 54% achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. This performance is reinforced by parent perceptions: 95% of respondents strongly agreed that their child does well at the school, and 78% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations.

The Ofsted breakdown shows consistent Good ratings across leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness. The early years provision was specifically rated Good in the 2019 graded inspection, and the school's nursery provision means children can join from age three. Behaviour and attitudes were not separately graded in the most recent inspection, but parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of respondents strongly agreed that their child feels safe, and 95% strongly agreed that pupils are well behaved. The school's small size likely contributes to this, with a pupil-to-teacher ratio that allows for close attention. SEND support is available for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia and multi-sensory impairment, though the parent view data on this question had no responses, so it's difficult to gauge satisfaction in that area. The school's religious character as Church of England is reflected in its chapel facility.

For families considering Raughton Head, the practical picture is one of a highly sought-after village school. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 18 applications for 13 places, with all 13 first-preference applicants offered a spot, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.38. This means it's popular but not impossible to get into if you live nearby. Facilities are strong for a school of this size, including a library, sports hall, playing fields, music rooms and a forest school. Clubs cover art, coding, chess and book club, while sports include cross country, netball, cricket and athletics. The school suits families who value a close-knit, Church of England setting with strong academic foundations and a broad range of extracurricular opportunities, all within a rural Cumberland community.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Raughton Head CofE School & Nursery

Helpful Guides for Parents