Dallam School, Cumbria

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Dallam School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have identified the improvement of attendance as a key priority for the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils are included and they feel part of the Dallam community."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There have been some significant changes in leadership recently with the appointment of new senior leaders."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have recently revised the personal development programme, including the personal, social and health education curriculum."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders deliver a curriculum that is sequenced to help students develop their skills and knowledge."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Not all pupils achieve as well as they should."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should improve the quality of teaching across the school by using assessment information effectively"; "Leaders should closely monitor the achievement of pupils through the school so that pupils achieve the best outcomes"; "Leaders should take appropriate action to ensure pupils secure their foundational knowledge in writing and mathematics".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Dallam, belonging comes first. We are here to build an ambitious, joyful and creative school community where everyone contributes, strives for excellence, and leaves ready to succeed on their chosen path. Belonging at Dallam is more than being included. It is being known, valued and actively involved."

On phones, the school says: "Mobile phones - Dallam School Skip to main content In this section Home / School / Mobile phones Mobile phones We are a phone-free school."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Dallam School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Westmorland and Furness and 47 across England.

38% 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 44.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.43: pupils made below 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 33.4, against 46 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 80 families put Dallam School as their first choice and 330 named it as one of their preferences, for 95 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Dallam School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Dallam School (as of April 2026): 77% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).

Of the 183 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 49% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 76 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 42% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 33% into work. 15% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

14.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 61 pupils (8%) received SEN support and 21 (2.8%) 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 moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 3 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dallam School (in), 70 metres away.

In 2024/25, Dallam School issued 258 suspensions, 29.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Dallam School are Milnthorpe Primary School (0.2 miles), Beetham CofE Primary School (1.5 miles) and Storth CofE School (1.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.