James Rennie School
James Rennie School is an academy special converter in Carlisle for pupils aged 3 to 19. It has 217 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for James Rennie School is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2018 of its predecessor, James Rennie School. In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Ofsted inspection: February 2023. KS2 results: 2025.
| Type | Special School / Academy special converter |
| Age Range | 3-19 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | California Road Kingstown Carlisle Cumbria CA3 0BU |
| Phone | 01228554280 |
| Reference Number | 146250 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 217 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 70.97%
Girls: 29.03% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 34.2% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 6.9% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | 6 | 19 |
| 2 | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| 3 | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| 4 | 13 | 7 | 20 |
| 5 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 6 | 11 | 6 | 17 |
| 7 | 13 | 4 | 17 |
| 8 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 9 | 10 | 7 | 17 |
| 10 | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| 11 | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| 12 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 13 | 11 | 1 | 12 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 83.9% |
| White, Other | 4.1% |
| African | 1.8% |
| Pakistani | 1.4% |
| White & Asian | 0.9% |
| Indian | 0.9% |
| Unclassified | 0.9% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.9% |
| Asian, Other | 0.9% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.5% |
This school has not been graded since it changed URN, usually on converting to an academy. The rating shown is from its predecessor, James Rennie School, inspected in March 2018.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 11 Jan 2023 – no overall grade published for this inspection |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 11 Jan 2023 | School inspection |
| 12 Sep 2018 | Academy conversion letter |
| 20 Mar 2018 | Short inspection |
| Previously as James Rennie School | |
| 21 May 2014 | Full inspection: |
| 29 Mar 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 04 Mar 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 24 Nov 2003 | Full inspection |
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 0% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | -7 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Writing | -6.2 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Maths | -7.3 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
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In 2024–25 pupils at James Rennie School attended 91.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 20.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 7.8% | 18.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% | 7.6% | 7.8% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.2% | 1.6% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Severely absent pupils | 2.9% | 3.3% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.4% | 2.5% |
Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.
In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at James Rennie School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.
In 2025–26 James Rennie School had 6.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 1.0% | 8.5% | 10.4% | 2.5% | 12.7% | 3.3% | 3.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 60.0% | – | 46.4% | 67.9% | 84.4% | 69.7% | 77.1% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 5.7 | – | 2.2 | 2.8 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 7.7 | – |
Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.
In 2025–26 James Rennie School had 217 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 94 |
| Severe learning difficulty | 75 |
| Profound and multiple learning difficulty | 17 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 16 |
| Physical disability | 13 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 1 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 1 |
Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2024–25 James Rennie School received £35,004 and spent £37,218 for each of its 202 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,320,000 (£6,536 per pupil).
Across all 7 schools of The Eden Academy, income was £36,160 and spending £38,589 per pupil.
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £338,000 | £550,000 | £625,000 | £814,000 | £1,061,000 | £1,320,000 |
| per pupil | £2,440 | £3,875 | £4,279 | £5,283 | £5,616 | £6,536 |
| In-year balance | -£46,000 | -£263,000 | -£164,000 | £233,000 | -£121,000 | -£447,000 |
| per pupil | -£329 | -£1,852 | -£1,122 | £1,513 | -£642 | -£2,214 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.
| Name | Distance |
|
Kingmoor Junior School
Liddle Close, Lowry Hill, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0DU |
0.56 miles |
|
Kingmoor Nursery and Infant School
Hether Drive, Lowry Hill, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0ES |
0.59 miles |
|
Houghton CofE School
Jackson Road, Houghton, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0PA |
0.76 miles |
|
Stanwix School
CHURCH STREET, STANWIX, CARLISLE, CUMBRIA, CA3 9DW |
1.34 miles |
|
Blackford CofE Primary School
Blackford, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 4ES |
1.98 miles |
|
Progress Schools - Carlisle
7 Victoria Place, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1EJ |
2.09 miles |
|
Caldew Lea School
Ashley Street, Caldew Lea School, Ashley St, Carlisle, Ca2 7be, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7BE |
2.18 miles |
|
Newtown Primary School
Newtown Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7LW |
2.26 miles |
|
St Bede's Catholic Primary School
Strathclyde Avenue, St Bede's RC Primary School, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7DS |
2.46 miles |
|
Norman Street Primary School
Norman Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 2BQ |
2.51 miles |
|
Belle Vue Primary School
Beaver Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7PT |
2.51 miles |
|
Brook Street Primary School
Edward Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 2JB |
2.6 miles |
|
St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle
Victoria Road, Botcherby, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 2UE |
2.71 miles |
|
Robert Ferguson Primary School
East Dale Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 5LA |
2.76 miles |
|
Rockcliffe CofE School
Rockcliffe, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 4AA |
2.82 miles |
|
Yewdale School
Yewdale Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7SD |
2.97 miles |
|
Newlaithes Junior School
Langrigg Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 6DX |
3.01 miles |
|
Newlaithes Infant School
Langrigg Road, Newlaithes Nursery & Infant School, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 6DX |
3.03 miles |
|
The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided)
Harold Street, Currock, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 4HG |
3.1 miles |
|
Crosby-on-Eden CofE School
Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 4QN |
3.15 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Austin Friars
Etterby Scaur, Carlisle, CA3 9PB |
1.26 miles |
|
Trinity School
Strand Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1JB |
1.98 miles |
|
Richard Rose Central Academy
Victoria Place, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1LY |
2.13 miles |
|
Richard Rose Morton Academy
Wigton Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 6LB |
3.23 miles |
|
St John Henry Newman Catholic School
Scalegate Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 4NL |
3.42 miles |
All schools in Carlisle · Cumberland local authority: places and applications
James Rennie School is part of The Eden Academy, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:
- Branthwaite Academy Workington
- Hexham Priory School Hexham
- George Hastwell School Special Academy Barrow-In-Furness
- Pinn River School Eastcote
- Pentland Field School Uxbridge
- Alexandra School Harrow
- Moorcroft School Uxbridge
- Grand Union Village School Northolt
What is James Rennie School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for James Rennie School is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2018 of its predecessor, James Rennie School.
When was James Rennie School last inspected by Ofsted?
James Rennie School was last inspected in February 2023.
How many pupils does James Rennie School have?
James Rennie School has 217 pupils on roll.
What age range does James Rennie School cover?
James Rennie School for pupils aged 3 to 19.
What are James Rennie School's SATs (KS2) results?
In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Where is James Rennie School?
James Rennie School is at California Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0BU.
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