Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #9 in Westmorland and Furness public Top 29% UK

The Lakes School

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

person Ms Sharon Rainey (Headteacher)

location_onWindermere, LA23 1HW

language Visit Website phone 01539440810

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

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Students

469

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Attainment 8

42.1

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GCSE Rank

#11 in Westmorland and Furness

#2,560 of 4,024 nationally

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The Lakes School is a Community school secondary school in Windermere, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Lakes School is a community school in Windermere, Westmorland and Furness, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 445 pupils on roll, of whom 16% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.1, placing the school #11 in Westmorland and Furness and #2,560 of 4,024 nationally. 36.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 15 A-level subjects. 55.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 39.5% at A*–A. In the 2022/23 leavers cohort, 15.2% progressed to Top-Third Higher Education institutions (ranked #988 nationally), out of 45.5% progressing to higher education overall. A-level value added: +0.39 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. 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 15.7:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

42.1

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

36.80%

Grade 4+ E&M

56.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.2%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)43.40%

Triple Science Entry31.60%

EBacc Slot Score12.5 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

46.8

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

41.70%

Grade 4+ E&M

59.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)13.6%

Entering EBacc4.80%

EBacc APS3.92

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.4

Grade 5+ E&M

43.30%

Entering EBacc12.20%

EBacc APS4

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS3.51

2022

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS3.98

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.67

2018

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS4.06

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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.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

98.9%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88.9%

Apprenticeships5.6%

Employment4.4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships13%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.39

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils do significantly better than expected at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*16.3%

Achieving A*–A39.5%

Achieving A*–B55.8%

VA Banding Well above average

Retention rate91.7%

A-level subjects offered15

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate89.50%

Post-18 Destinations 86.4% sustained

school Higher Education (University) 45.5%

handshake Apprenticeships 0%

work Employment 40.9%

Not sustained / NEET9.1%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate96.70%

Post-18 Destinations (2022/23 leavers)97% sustained

school Higher Education (University) 42.4%

stars Top-Third Universities 15.2%

handshake Apprenticeships 0%

work Employment 45.5%

Not sustained / NEET3%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate90.5%

Post-18 Destinations 94.7% sustained

school Higher Education (University) 36.8%

handshake Apprenticeships 15.8%

work Employment 42.1%

Not sustained / NEET5.3%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results & 16-19 Destination Measures

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Secondary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	GCSE Attainment	Progress 8 Rank	A-Level VA	Top-Third Uni	Overall Uni (HE)
2026	#1,758 / 4,024	#9	#2,560	#1	—	#988	#1,905
2025	#1,382 / 3,948	#9	#1,628	#1	#109	#988	#1,905
2024	#1,383 / 4,450	#10	#1,541	#1,829	#1,140	#988	#1,905
2023	#1,705 / 4,321	#11	#2,393	#1,810	—	—	#1,951
2022	#1,459 / 4,199	#9	#1,826	#1,482	—	—	#2,166
2019	#1,829 / 2,711	#13	#1,685	#1,814	—	—	—
2018	#1,299 / 2,537	#10	#1,273	#1,331	—	—	—

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 January 2025

Inspection Report

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19 November 2019

Inspection Report

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28 November 2018

Inspection Report

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16 May 2017

Inspection Report

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10 December 2015

Inspection Report

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20 May 2015

Inspection Report

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10 March 2011

Inspection Report

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18 March 2010

Inspection Report

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13 October 2009

Inspection Report

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10 April 2008

Inspection Report

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16 November 2006

Inspection Report

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28 February 2005

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2019-11-19

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met Latest Ungraded: Standards maintained

2018-11-28

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2017-05-16

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2015-12-10

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2015-05-20

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

6.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.0%(22 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 439 pupils. During this period, there were 29 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.6%, 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)	439	29	6.6%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	446	29	6.5%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	450	17	3.8%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	450	15	3.3%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	452	29	6.4%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	469	22	4.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	469	37	7.9%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	470	18	3.8%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	461	21	4.6%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	462	28	6.1%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	463	23	5.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	462	31	6.7%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	464	4	0.9%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	463	22	4.8%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	461	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	461	11	2.4%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	466	11	2.4%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	449	3	0.7%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	443	13	2.9%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	443	11	2.5%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	470	12	2.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	471	17	3.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	477	18	3.8%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	497	18	3.6%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	501	14	2.8%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	507	22	4.3%	3.1%	1

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 15 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

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The Lakes School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ranking History & Trajectory

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)

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Westmorland and Furness

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith

Queen Elizabeth School

Cartmel Priory CofE School

Ulverston Victoria High School

The Queen Katherine School

Kirkbie Kendal School