Best Secondary Schools in Westmorland and Furness 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 19 schools across Westmorland and Furness. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
19
Open secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
16 Good or better
of 19 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
Queen Elizabeth School currently leads
Methodology

Westmorland and Furness has 19 open secondary schools. On our composite Schools Near Me score, Queen Elizabeth School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Westmorland and Furness follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Queen Elizabeth School
Secondary
 Good 82 View school
2. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith
Secondary
 Good 81 View school
3. John Ruskin School
Secondary
 Good 76 View school
4. Kirkby Stephen Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
5. The Lakes School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
6. Kirkbie Kendal School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
7. Ulverston Victoria High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
8. Cartmel Priory CofE School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
9. Queen Elizabeth Studio School
Secondary
 Good 50 View school
10. Ullswater Community College
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
11. The Queen Katherine School
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
12. Furness Academy
Secondary
 Good 46 View school
13. Settlebeck School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 46 View school
14. Dowdales School
Secondary
 Good 43 View school
15. Dallam School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 39 View school
16. Samuel King's School
Secondary
 Good 38 View school
17. St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow
Secondary
 Good 38 View school
18. Appleby Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 34 View school
19. Walney School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 23 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Westmorland and Furness

Best primary schools in Westmorland and FurnessTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Westmorland and FurnessTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Westmorland and FurnessPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in Westmorland and FurnessReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in CumberlandCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BlackpoolCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LancashireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Blackburn with DarwenCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Westmorland and Furness

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Westmorland and Furness?
There are 19 open secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness (closed schools are excluded). 0 of the 19 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Westmorland and Furness is Queen Elizabeth School. The full ranked table above lists the top 19 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Westmorland and Furness?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Westmorland and Furness?
Primary and secondary applications in Westmorland and Furness are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Westmorland and Furness council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.