Carnforth High School, Carnforth
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Carnforth High School is a welcoming, inclusive community where pupils feel safe and supported by caring staff. The school excels at supporting pupils with additional needs and has successfully improved attendance through rewards and targeted interventions. Staff prioritize pupil wellbeing and have created a calm classroom culture where positive behaviour is the norm.
Key Strengths
- Strong safeguarding culture with open communication and quick response to concerns
- Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional learning needs
- Well-planned personal development programme that equips pupils with knowledge to live in modern Britain
- Leaders and staff have created a calm, respectful school culture with rare bullying incidents
- Improving attendance rates through targeted support and rewards
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not consistently use assessment information to adapt teaching and close knowledge gaps
- Some tasks set by teachers are not ambitious enough to help pupils apply and consolidate learning
- Pupils' attainment in public examinations remains below national average
- Some inconsistencies in how well the curriculum is delivered across subjects
- Further work needed to improve attendance so rates rise consistently
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Dance club, LEGO club, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, medical society, foreign language groups, enrichment days with charity work, work experience (Year 10), local university visits
Carnforth High School is an inclusive school that has created a calm, respectful culture where pupils feel safe and supported. While the school excels in safeguarding, attendance improvements, and personal development, there are concerns about teaching consistency and pupil achievement in public examinations.
At a Glance
32.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.7
Avg class size
29
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
87%
Available places
657 pupils
754 capacity
97 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Carnforth
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Carnforth
Admissions Demand - Lancashire
Places available
14,786
Applications
13,820
Got 1st preference
86.3%
Got preferred school
96.8%
Secondary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.99365%
Overall absence
33.10056%
Persistent absence
716
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Carnforth High School
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Carnforth
Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School
Carnforth Community Primary School
Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School
Warton Archbishop Hutton's VC Primary School
Nether Kellet Community Primary School
Bolton-le-Sands Church of England Primary School
Nearby Schools
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