Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #8 in Cumberland public Top 30% UK

Richard Rose Central Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Dan Markham

corporate_fareUNITED LEARNING TRUST

location_onCarlisle, CA1 1LY

language Visit Website phone 1228822060

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,026

trending_up

Attainment 8

42.3

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#8 in Cumberland

#2,207 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Richard Rose Central Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Carlisle, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

article

School Summary

Richard Rose Central Academy is an academy sponsor led in Carlisle, Cumberland, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 1,034 pupils on roll, of whom 32% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.3, placing the school #8 in Cumberland and #2,207 of 3,216 nationally. 35.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 14.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 16 A-level subjects. 35.1% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 16.4% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.12 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 7.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

42.3

Grade 5+ E&M

35.20%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)14.9%

Entering EBacc43.20%

EBacc APS3.85

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27.50%

EBacc APS3.76

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37%

EBacc APS3.60

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS3.89

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.71

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc51%

EBacc APS3.33

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.52

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44%

EBacc APS3.33

explore

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

workspace_premium

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.12

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*7.5%

Achieving A*–A16.4%

Achieving A*–B35.1%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate90.0%

A-level subjects offered16

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.09

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate68.00%

2023

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Retention rate74.30%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate86.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 March 2025

Inspection Report

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,034	74	7.2%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,044	83	8.0%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,053	67	6.4%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,044	61	5.8%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,051	83	7.9%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,026	66	6.4%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,026	80	7.8%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,026	123	12.0%	5.9%	3
2021/22 (Summer term)	969	101	10.4%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	971	119	12.3%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	976	169	17.3%	4.4%	3
2020/21 (Summer term)	923	156	16.9%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	934	106	11.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	936	114	12.2%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	842	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	842	152	18.1%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	861	347	40.3%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	741	142	19.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	752	127	16.9%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	761	186	24.4%	3.8%	4
2017/18 (Summer term)	655	214	32.7%	3.4%	3
2017/18 (Spring term)	664	183	27.6%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	675	288	42.7%	3.7%	3
2016/17 (Summer term)	655	221	33.7%	3.0%	6
2016/17 (Spring term)	653	265	40.6%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	664	467	70.3%	3.1%	4

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Cumberland

Keswick School

Cockermouth School

The Nelson Thomlinson School

William Howard School

Caldew School

Millom School