Academy converter · Cumberland

Caldew School

11–18Ages
990Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137254URN

Dalston, Carlisle, CA5 7NN · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.6per place

0.8 above Cumberland median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Cumberland

427 applications for 164 places · 1st of 16 in Cumberland

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

40.5of 90

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

12th of 19 in Cumberland

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 June 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		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

2.6applications per place, Year 7

0.8 above Cumberland median (1.9) 0.4 above England median (2.2)

427 applications · 164 places offered · 180 named it first

2026 2.6; Cumberland median median 1.9
2025 2.8; Cumberland median median 1.9
2024 2.7; Cumberland median median 1.5
2023 2.5; Cumberland median median 1.8
2022 2.4; Cumberland median median 1.8
2021 3.0; Cumberland median median 1.8
2020 2.4; Cumberland median median 1.7
2019 2.7; Cumberland median median 1.6
2018 2.4; Cumberland median median 1.8
2017 3.0; Cumberland median median 1.7
2016 2.7; Cumberland median median 1.6
2015 2.6; Cumberland median median 1.6
2014 2.3; Cumberland median median 1.5

More applications per place than the Cumberland median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Cumberland median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, 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	164	427	2.6	180	1.10
Sep 2025	165	467	2.8	183	1.11
Sep 2024	160	435	2.7	193	1.21
Sep 2023	169	422	2.5	159	0.94
Sep 2022	159	382	2.4	139	0.87
Sep 2021	164	496	3.0	166	1.01
Sep 2020	156	371	2.4	132	0.85
Sep 2019	134	355	2.7	127	0.95
Sep 2018	170	401	2.4	163	0.96
Sep 2017	174	515	3.0	202	1.16
Sep 2016	171	462	2.7	183	1.07
Sep 2015	181	476	2.6	236	1.30
Sep 2014	173	399	2.3	177	1.02

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

168 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)40.512th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths23%17th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 33% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths52%

Cumberland 56% England 66%

This school
Cumberland median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.19

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	168	40.5	23%	52%	–
2024/25	168	44.3	39%	62%	–
2023/24	145	42.4	39%	50%	−0.19
2022/23	164	45.1	38%	65%	−0.10

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

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

Caldew SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

2.6applications per place 40.5Attainment 8
Richard Rose Morton Academy
4.0 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 41.5Attainment 8
Trinity School
6.5 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
Richard Rose Central Academy
6.7 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
St John Henry Newman Catholic School
6.9 km · Cumberland

Good2022

2.2applications per place 38.9Attainment 8
The Nelson Thomlinson School
11.6 km · Cumberland

Good2023

1.4applications per place 43.1Attainment 8
William Howard School
18.8 km · Cumberland

Standards maintained2025

1.5applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
Beacon Hill Community School
24.5 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith
25.2 km · Westmorland and Furness

Good2023

1.4applications per place 65.2Attainment 8 Selective

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137254 · 942/5413
Trust: Caldew School
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,050 pupils · 990 on roll
Free school meals: 19.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: Caldew School (URN 112440)
Address: Dalston, Carlisle, CA5 7NN
Local authority: Cumberland

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources