Community school · Cumberland

Robert Ferguson Primary School

3–11Ages
409Pupils
PrimaryPhase
112242URN

East Dale Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle, CA2 5LA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodNov 2017

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

close to Cumberland median (1.7)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Cumberland

82 applications for 51 places · 35th of 63 in Cumberland

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

38%met the expected standard

Cumberland 56% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodNov 2017

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

Inspection history

18 January 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
21 November 2017
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.6applications per place, Reception

close to Cumberland median (1.7) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

82 applications · 51 places offered · 50 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.7
2025 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.7
2024 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.6
2023 1.7; Cumberland median median 1.7
2022 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.7
2021 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.6
2020 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.7
2019 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.7
2018 1.7; Cumberland median median 1.9
2017 1.7; Cumberland median median 1.8
2016 2.0; Cumberland median median 2.0
2015 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.8
2014 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.7

This school
Cumberland median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	51	82	1.6	50	0.98
Sep 2025	49	79	1.6	49	1.00
Sep 2024	54	87	1.6	52	0.96
Sep 2023	52	86	1.7	52	1.00
Sep 2022	42	64	1.5	42	1.00
Sep 2021	60	97	1.6	60	1.00
Sep 2020	59	89	1.5	57	0.97
Sep 2019	60	96	1.6	60	1.00
Sep 2018	60	103	1.7	64	1.07
Sep 2017	60	101	1.7	60	1.00
Sep 2016	59	118	2.0	78	1.32
Sep 2015	60	89	1.5	54	0.90
Sep 2014	60	89	1.5	58	0.97

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 62% · Writing 42% · Maths 60% → all three 38% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard38%94th of 111 in Cumberland

Cumberland 56% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard62%

Cumberland 75% England 78%

Higher standard23%

Cumberland 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard42%

Cumberland 71% England 75%

Greater depth2%

Cumberland 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard60%

Cumberland 71% England 77%

Higher standard17%

Cumberland 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Cumberland median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	38%	2%	103	102
2023/24	59%	3%	106	104
2022/23	45%	2%	104	102

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Robert Ferguson Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 38%met the SATs standard
The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided)
1.0 km · Cumberland

Good2024

1.9applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
Caldew Lea School
1.2 km · Cumberland

Good2024

1.6applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Brook Street Primary School
1.3 km · Cumberland

2026

1.7applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle
1.4 km · Cumberland

Special measures Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 41%met the SATs standard
Newlaithes Junior School
1.4 km · Cumberland

Standards maintained2025

50%met the SATs standard
St Bede's Catholic Primary School
1.4 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Newlaithes Infant School
1.5 km · Cumberland

Good2022

1.9applications per place
Norman Street Primary School
1.5 km · Cumberland

Remains Good2024

1.8applications per place 59%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 112242 · 942/2710
Capacity: 420 pupils · 409 on roll
Free school meals: 23.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: East Dale Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle, CA2 5LA
Local authority: Cumberland

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources