Schools by area › Cumberland › Caldew School
Caldew School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7NN · caldew.cumbria.sch.uk · 01228 710044
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jun 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Cumberland 42.3, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 990
- 94% of 1,050 places
- Local authority
- Cumberland
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 19%
- First language not English
- 3.2%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Caldew School
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 180 families put the school first and 164 places were offered; 88% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 164 | 180 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 165 | 183 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 160 | 193 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 169 | 159 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 159 | 139 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.3, and 38.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Cumberland it was 42.3, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (26.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼38.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼61.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ●40.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ●3.99 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 34.5 | −9.9 |
| Further education | 44.8 | +6.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1 | −3.6 |
| Employment | 9.7 | +3.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.1 | +2.3 |
| Activity not captured | 2.8 | +1.6 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 students | C- (26.2) | Average -0.15 | |
| 63 students | C- (26.1) | Average -0.14 | |
| 37 students | Merit- (21.3) | Average -0.17 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 81 | C- (26.8) | -0.25 |
| 2022/23 | 44 | C+ (33.7) | — |
| 2021/22 | 55 | C (30.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 53 | C- (26.5) | -0.08 |
| 2017/18 | 79 | C (30.7) | +0.02 |
| 2016/17 | 88 | C- (28.1) | -0.05 |
| 2015/16 | 90 | C- (25.9) | -0.17 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 38.4 | −11.6 |
| Further education | 2.7 | −0.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 11 | −9.7 |
| Employment | 42.5 | +25.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.5 | −1.4 |
Ofsted
Caldew School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 21 June 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 21 Jun 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jun 2018
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jun 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Apr 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Mar 2011Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (84 replies, to 2 April 2023).
- Recommend
- 92%
- Replies
- 84
- 9% · 2 Apr 2023
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 37% who had a child bullied