Fairfield Primary School
Gallowbarrow, Cockermouth, CA13 0DXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Fairfield Primary School is a primary school in Cockermouth for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 178 schools in Cumberland. It ranks 8th of 111 primary schools in Cumberland. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 October 2014, report published 27 October 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 27 September 2023
Pupils demonstrate warmth and kindness towards each other. They enjoy respectful interactions with the adults at the school, who care for them well. Pupils are proud of their school. Pupils benefit from the high aspirations that the trust and the school have for their achievement. Most pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well and are well prepared for each stage in their education. Children in the early years enjoy a vibrant learning environment. Pupils are happy. They receive a high level of care and support at the school. As a result, pupils make a strong start to their time at the school. Pupils enjoy an impressive range of opportunities in school that make a significant contribution to their wider development. A wealth of clubs helps them to further their talents and interests in the areas of sport, the arts and languages. The highly active school parliament listens and responds thoughtfully to fellow pupils. This has led to improvements to playground activities, school lunches and the organisation of whole- school reading events. Pupils are enthused by the many trips available to them. These are closely linked to the curriculum that they study. Visits to the home of William Wordsworth and Castlerigg Stone Circle ensure that pupils develop an appreciation of local history.
What the school should improve
- On occasion, staff are too slow to address the gaps that some pupils at the early stages of reading have in their phonics knowledge. When this happens, these pupils move on to new learning before they are ready and they do not achieve as well as they should. The school should strengthen support for these pupils so that they become confident and fluent readers.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
53 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
455 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Fairfield Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints' CofE School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted judgements: Inadequate to good | Not published |
| Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 74% met the expected standard |
| Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 87% met the expected standard |
| St Bridget's CofE School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 47% met the expected standard |
| Broughton Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- LEARNING FOR LIFE TRUST
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Chris Steele
- Phone
- 01900821133
- Address
- Gallowbarrow, Cockermouth, CA13 0DX
- Local authority
- Cumberland
- URN
- 142196
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.