Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Furness College on 6 areas: 6 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Contribution to meeting skills needs - Needs attention. "Since the previous inspection, leaders have strengthened their work with key stakeholders, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Department for Work and Pensions, to understand better the skills needs in Barrow and across Cumbria."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Tutors do not consistently plan or implement appropriate adaptations for learners and apprentices with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Since the previous inspection, a new leadership team has guided the college through substantial changes."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Achievement remains too low in many subjects, including GCSE English and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have improved their oversight of the quality of teaching."

Participation and development - Needs attention. "Too many learners do not attend college routinely."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should provide a coordinated plan of professional learning to equip staff with the knowledge and skills needed to make effective adaptations to their teaching for learners and apprentices who need extra help or support"; "Leaders should improve their oversight of the adaptations for learners with additional needs and barriers and make changes to improve the support learners and apprentices receive"; "Leaders should identify the reasons for low achievement across each provision type and take appropriate action to increase the proportion of learners and apprentices who remain on their courses and achieve"; "Leaders should improve the teaching on A-level courses so that learners make the progress of which they are capable"; "Leaders should ensure that young people and adult learners have high rates of attendance to lessons"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching and assessment strategies are of a consistently high quality across all programmes for young people, including English and mathematics"; "Leaders should improve assessment and feedback for apprentices to ensure that tutors identify any gaps in learning accurately and apprentices are clearly informed about how to improve their work"; "Leaders should ensure that tutors and coaches sequence engineering apprenticeships effectively".

In its own words: "The two main campus sites, at Channelside and Barrow Sixth Form are are state of the art facilities and provide our students with the best foundation upon which to build their future. Our campuses include virtual learning spaces, demonstration areas and workshops with all the latest equipment and technologies."

From the headteacher's welcome: "As Principal, I’m proud to lead a college that sits at the heart of our community and is committed to helping every learner thrive. Whether you’re joining us from school, returning to education, or looking to gain employment through an apprenticeship, you’ll find a welcoming, inclusive environment where you’re supported to achieve your very best."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis and badminton.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

Of the 647 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 6% went on to university or other higher education, 35% to apprenticeships and 30% into work. 8% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1040 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Furness College (near), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Furness College stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 288 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.