Cockermouth School, Cockermouth

In its own words: "At Cockermouth School our vision is to inspire and encourage every learner, enabling them to achieve their full potential in a supportive and inclusive environment. We strive to be a community where students aspire to excel, develop a lifelong love for learning and become compassionate, responsible young people, who are ready to contribute positively to society."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Thank you for your interest in Cockermouth School. We are rightly proud to be a high-performing, truly comprehensive school serving a large catchment area in the north-west of Cumbria. Our school is popular and highly regarded and we value our place at the heart of our local community."

In 2026, pupils at Cockermouth School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 40.4 in Cumberland and 47 across England.

47% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 32% in Cumberland and 47% in England.

That is down from 51.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.23: pupils made above 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 34.2, against 51.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 172 families put Cockermouth School as their first choice and 324 named it as one of their preferences, for 175 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Cockermouth School is one of 4 schools run by Learning for Life Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 216 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 12% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 94 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 55% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 23% into work. 30% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 82 pupils (6.5%) received SEN support and 75 (6%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Cockermouth School has a resourced provision for autism: 32 places, 32 pupils on roll.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Cockermouth School.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Beech Lane (at), 130 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Cockermouth School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Cockermouth School issued 106 suspensions, 8.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Cockermouth School are All Saints' CofE School (0.2 miles) and Fairfield Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.