Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #17 in Cumberland public Top 42% UK

Solway Community School

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

personMr Tom Hailwood

location_onWigton, CA7 4DD

language Visit Website phone 1697331234

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

137

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#17 in Cumberland

#3,024 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Solway Community School is a Community school secondary school in Wigton, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Solway Community School is a community school in Wigton, Cumberland, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 146 pupils on roll, of whom 35% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 35, placing the school #17 in Cumberland and #3,024 of 3,216 nationally. 8.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. 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 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.7 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

Grade 5+ E&M

8.30%

Entering EBacc37.50%

EBacc APS3.17

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.9

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36.00%

EBacc APS2.17

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc50%

EBacc APS2.94

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS2.7

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.61

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS2.88

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.11

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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

73%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)54%

Apprenticeships12%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)27%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment17%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment14%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

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

Apprenticeships13%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 December 2024

Inspection Report

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18 June 2019

Inspection Report

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22 February 2018

Inspection Report

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22 November 2016

Inspection Report

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29 January 2015

Inspection Report

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12 November 2014

Inspection Report

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15 January 2013

Inspection Report

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17 October 2011

Inspection Report

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25 January 2010

Inspection Report

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16 May 2007

Inspection Report

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01 March 2006

Inspection Report

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30 October 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2024-12-03

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-06-18

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2018-02-22

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-11-22

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-11-12

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.4%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 146 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.4%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	146	2	1.4%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	147	3	2.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	138	3	2.2%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	138	0	0.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	138	4	2.9%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	137	2	1.5%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	137	3	2.2%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	136	1	0.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	119	3	2.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	118	4	3.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	119	1	0.8%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	114	2	1.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	110	1	0.9%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	113	2	1.8%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	120	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	120	1	0.8%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	120	2	1.7%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	121	2	1.7%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	121	2	1.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	123	3	2.4%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	129	2	1.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	134	1	0.7%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	135	2	1.5%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	144	6	4.2%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	149	5	3.4%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	151	8	5.3%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 19 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 6 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 4 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

33.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree56%

agree38%

disagree3%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree53%

agree44%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree53%

agree18%

disagree3%

not applicable26%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree62%

agree32%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree47%

disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree50%

agree50%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree41%

agree53%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree41%

disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree56%

agree38%

disagree3%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes94%

no6%

Top Secondary Schools in Cumberland

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Keswick School

Outstanding

location_on Keswick, CA12 5QB

emoji_events #1 in LA

Cockermouth School

Good

location_on Cockermouth, CA13 9HF

emoji_events #2 in LA

The Nelson Thomlinson School

Good

location_on Wigton, CA7 9PX

emoji_events #3 in LA

William Howard School

Good

location_on Brampton, CA8 1AR

emoji_events #4 in LA

Caldew School

Good

location_on Carlisle, CA5 7NN

emoji_events #5 in LA

Millom School

Good

location_on Millom, LA18 5AB

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Cumberland arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

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)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

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