Furness Academy, Barrow-in-Furness

In its own words: "Furness Academy is a secondary school at the heart of the community in Barrow-in-Furness. In September 2013, we opened our new £22 million building. We offer a fantastic environment for students to learn in, providing state of the art equipment and facilities to enhance their education. At Furness Academy, learning is at the heart of what we do."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Furness Academy, we foster a strong, positive culture for learning and pride ourselves on the high expectations and standards that are maintained by all students. These expectations are here to support you in becoming the very best version of yourself. When you visit Furness Academy, you will see that we are more than just a school."

In 2026, pupils at Furness Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Westmorland and Furness and 47 across England.

32% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Westmorland and Furness and 47% in England.

That is down from 42.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.36: 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 29.2, against 45.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 263 families put Furness Academy as their first choice and 416 named it as one of their preferences, for 258 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Furness Academy are St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 38.5); Chetwynde School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.5); Walney Academy (2.1 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.5); and Dowdales School (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.1).

Furness Academy's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Furness Academy is one of 7 schools run by Furness Education Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 209 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 69% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 62% to a further education college, 15% to an apprenticeship and 9% into work.

3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 130 pupils (11%) received SEN support and 75 (6.3%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park Leisure Centre (at), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 332 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Furness Academy issued 277 suspensions, 23.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Furness Academy are Parkside Academy (0.1 miles); Cambridge Primary School (0.4 miles); Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Barrow (0.5 miles); and Greengate Junior School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.