[2] It is located approximately one-and-a-quarter miles north-east of the village of Mawbray, the largest settlement in the parish, and twenty-three miles south-west of the city of Carlisle, Cumbria's county town.

[7] Both are constructed from locally quarried sandstone, though recent additions to the school are built from more modern building materials.

[9] A short inspection in 2017 maintained the school's "good" rating, with some improvement noted in mathematics from the previous full inspection, but that further progress was still needed in the teaching and assessment of mathematics.

[10] The school was involved in a controversy in 2012 when it emerged that a convicted paedophile named Donald Hunt had, in 2011, visited the school while working at a farmers' market, something that would breach the terms of his sexual offences prevention order.

[13] Then-headteacher Mrs Daniel spoke at Hunt's four-hour-long trial at Carlisle Magistrates Court, and he was ultimately sentenced to two years of community service.

Some families from outside of the catchment area opt to send their children to Holme St. Cuthbert,[19] due to its good reputation in the local community.