Appleby Grammar School, Appleby-in-Westmorland

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Appleby Grammar School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Over time, pupils' attainment and progress at the end of Year 11 have been close to national averages."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed robust systems to keep careful track of attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the strengths of the curriculum and the quality of teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders hold high expectations for all pupils, including those who face barriers to their learning."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, together with governors, share an ambitious and unwavering commitment to every pupil in this close-knit school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development programme is thoughtfully designed and makes a meaningful contribution to pupils' character."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and ambitious vision for the sixth form."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on their work to ensure that teachers make use of assessment information to revisit any gaps in learning so that over time pupils remember what they have been taught more securely".

In its own words: "You will find Appleby Grammar School is warm and friendly place where all individuals are known and valued. Safeguarding and welfare are high on our agenda with our community caring for all its members, including our most vulnerable and those with SEND."

In 2026, pupils at Appleby Grammar School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Westmorland and Furness and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Westmorland and Furness and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 40.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.01: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 31.9, against 42.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 16 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Biology.

For September 2026 entry, 76 families put Appleby Grammar School as their first choice and 107 named it as one of their preferences, for 76 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Appleby Grammar School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (88%).

Of the 59 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 9% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 26 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 35% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 27% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 51 pupils (14.3%) received SEN support and 3 (0.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 610 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Grammar School (outside), 110 metres away.

In 2024/25, Appleby Grammar School issued 26 suspensions, 7.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.