Robert Ferguson Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

East Dale Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle, CA2 5LAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Robert Ferguson Primary School is a primary school in Carlisle for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 178 schools in Cumberland. It ranks 34th of 40 primary schools in Carlisle. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2017.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 21 November 2017, report published 19 December 2017

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 January 2023

Most pupils achieve well. This is because leaders and teachers have high expectations and, in most subjects, pupils benefit from curriculums that are well designed. Pupils enjoy their learning. Pupils behave well in lessons and around school. They show kindness towards each other. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), learn to be curious and imaginative. They enjoy talking about their learning with their peers. Many pupils enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including wheelchair basketball, calculations club and ukulele club. Pupils take great pride in helping each other. For example, older pupils thoroughly enjoy helping younger pupils develop a love of reading. Pupils feel safe because leaders take action to stop any unkind behaviour, including bullying, that may make pupils feel unhappy.

What the school should improve

  • In a small number of subjects, leaders have not set out the key knowledge that they want pupils to learn. This means that teachers do not ensure that pupils gain the depth of knowledge that they could. Leaders should finalise their curriculum thinking in these subjects so that all pupils learn the key knowledge that they need to prepare them for the next stage of their education.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

60 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths38%

38%, 24 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths2%

2%, 6 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score103

103, 3 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

409 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals23.7%

23.7%, 2.8 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language11.7%

11.7%, 9.9 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support21.5%

21.5%, 6.7 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.4%

4.4%, 1.6 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Robert Ferguson Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided)0.6 milesOfsted: Good43% met the expected standard
Caldew Lea School0.8 milesOfsted: Good56% met the expected standard
Brook Street Primary School0.8 milesReport card: Needs attention to expected standard43% met the expected standard
St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle0.9 milesOfsted judgements: Inadequate to good41% met the expected standard
Newlaithes Junior School0.9 milesOfsted: Good50% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Graham Frost
Address
East Dale Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle, CA2 5LA
Local authority
Cumberland
URN
112242

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.