Cartmel Priory CofE School is a mainstream secondary school in Grange-over-Sands, Westmorland and Furness, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 37 of its 371 pupils (10%) were getting SEN support and 23 (6.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 371 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Westmorland and Furness.
10% get SEN support
37 of 371 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
6.2% have an EHC plan
23 of 371 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia19
- Social, emotional and mental health13
- Speech, language and communication9
- Autism8
- Moderate learning difficulty8
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 371 (places for 380)
- Headteacher
- Sarah Beestone
- Part of
- Cartmel Priory Church of England School Academy Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 14.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Westmorland and Furness
- School reference (URN)
- 137338
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Westmorland and Furness council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, May 2026: Needs attention in 2 of 6 areas
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2022).
Contact and getting there
Headless Cross, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, LA11 7SA
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Fell House School Independent · Ages 6–12 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- SwitchED2 Independent · Ages 9–18 4.8 miles
- Carnforth Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 8.8 miles
- Morecambe Bay Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 9.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cartmel CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 4.3%, EHC plans 12.8% 0.2 miles
- Allithwaite CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.6%, EHC plans 3.7% 1.0 mile
- Grange CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 8.9%, EHC plans 3.1% 1.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Westmorland and Furness SEND schools in Westmorland and Furness
Questions about Cartmel Priory CofE School
How many pupils at Cartmel Priory CofE School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 37 of the 371 pupils (10%) were getting SEN support and 23 (6.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Cartmel Priory CofE School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (19 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (13 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (9 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Cartmel Priory CofE School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Cartmel Priory CofE School?
Through Westmorland and Furness council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Cartmel Priory CofE School?
You can ask for Cartmel Priory CofE School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Cartmel Priory CofE School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Carnforth Community Primary School, about 8.8 miles away.
Where is Cartmel Priory CofE School?
Headless Cross, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, LA11 7SA, in Westmorland and Furness.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.