Photo: Malc McDonald · CC BY-SA 2.0State schools in Brigham
At Key Stage 2, 71% of pupils at Brigham’s primaries met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, above both Cumbria’s towns (57%) and towns in England (62%). 1 state-funded school is located in Brigham’s built-up area. Brigham has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; its schools are listed below.
Town figures are pupil-weighted across the schools the grade uses; England’s are the average school.
Where Brigham’s state school is
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Brigham’s built-up area.
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.
How school places work in Brigham
Cumberland County Council handles applications for every state school in Brigham, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 1 of Brigham’s 1 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Useful: Apply for a primary place (GOV.UK) · Apply for a secondary place (GOV.UK) · How admissions criteria work
1 state school in Brigham
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted inspections
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 0 of Brigham’s 1 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Brigham and the places around it
Coloured by School Grade.
| Town | Schools | KS2 | Att. 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham 1 school | — | 71% | — |
| Great Broughton and Little Broughton 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 0.9 mi | A− | 66% | — |
| Cockermouth 3 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 2.4 mi | B− | 59% | 47.9 |
| Dearham 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 3.4 mi | D | 51% | 41.7 |
| Stainburn 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4 mi | D− | 47% | 39.5 |
| Seaton 2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.1 mi | D− | 47% | 39.5 |
| Flimby 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.3 mi | D | 51% | 41.7 |
| Maryport 4 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.4 mi | D | 51% | 41.7 |
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
- Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Brigham: 0% (England’s average school: 8%).
- Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
- Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
- Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
- Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
- Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
- Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Brigham
Are schools in Brigham good?
We don’t grade England’s schools yet: Department for Education results and Ofsted report cards are being added. School places are handled by Cumbria council.
How do I apply for a school place in Brigham?
Through Cumberland County Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many state schools are in Brigham?
1 open state-funded school is located in Brigham’s built-up area: 1 primary, 0 secondary and 0 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.