Schools in Cumberland
167 schools in 19 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Cumberland at a glance
- Schools
- 167 144 state primary, 19 state secondary, 1 sixth-form or college and 3 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 90% 121 of the 135 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 13 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 16 Of 148 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 0% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 0 of 163 state schools that take an intake. Cumberland's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Cumberland
Primary
| Place in Cumberland | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School | Wigton | 1st (1/113) |
| 2 | Stoneraise School | Carlisle | Top 2% (2/113) |
| 3 | Jericho Primary School | Whitehaven | Top 3% (3/113) |
| 4 | Crosby-on-Eden CofE School | Carlisle | Top 4% (4/113) |
| 5 | Hayton CofE Primary School | Brampton | Top 5% (5/113) |
| 6 | Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School | Cockermouth | Top 6% (6/113) |
| 7 | Fairfield Primary School | Cockermouth | Top 7% (7/113) |
| 8 | Shankhill CofE Primary School | CARLISLE | Top 8% (8/113) |
| 9 | Lanercost CofE Primary School | Brampton | Top 8% (9/113) |
| 10 | Gosforth CofE Primary School and Nursery | Seascale | Top 9% (10/113) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Cumberland primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Cumberland | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keswick School | Keswick | 1st (1/19) |
| 2 | Cockermouth School | Cockermouth | Top 11% (2/19) |
| 3 | St Benedict's Catholic High School | Whitehaven | Top 16% (3/19) |
| 4 | The Nelson Thomlinson School | Wigton | Top 22% (4/19) |
| 5 | The Whitehaven Academy | Whitehaven | Top 27% (5/19) |
| 6 | Millom School | Millom | Top 32% (6/19) |
| 7 | Richard Rose Central Academy | Carlisle | Top 37% (7/19) |
| 8 | William Howard School | Brampton | Top 43% (8/19) |
| 9 | Netherhall School | Maryport | Top 48% (9/19) |
| 10 | Richard Rose Morton Academy | Carlisle | (10/19) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Cumberland secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Beckermet 1 school · best schools
- Brampton 9 schools · best schools
- Carlisle 49 schools · best schools
- Cleator Moor 2 schools · best schools
- Cockermouth 8 schools · best schools
- Egremont 5 schools · best schools
- Frizington 4 schools · best schools
- Keswick 5 schools · best schools
- Maryport 13 schools · best schools
- Millom 7 schools · best schools
- Seascale 2 schools · best schools
- Whitehaven 16 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | National rule (School Admissions Code) |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | National rule (School Admissions Code) |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Cumberland council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | National rule (School Admissions Code) |
Every Cumberland admission date · After offer day in Cumberland: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Cumberland. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 0 of 163 state schools (0%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Cumberland: we hold checked fees for 1 of 3 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 67 nurseries and pre-schools in Cumberland, with fees held for 8. Nurseries in Cumberland by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Cumberland
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.