Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, Kirkby Stephen

In its own words: "To enable every young person to reach their potential and achieve the success they deserve by providing an innovative and inspiring learning experience."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Kirkby Stephen Grammar School is a successful and continually improving 11-18 school set in the beautiful landscape of the Upper Eden Valley. With around 350 students on roll, including a thriving sixth form, we are small by design - and proud of it."

In 2026, pupils at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Westmorland and Furness and 47 across England.

67% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Westmorland and Furness and 47% in England.

That is up from 47.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.02: pupils made about 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 39.6, against 52.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 17 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Chemistry, Physics and History.

For September 2026 entry, 50 families put Kirkby Stephen Grammar School as their first choice and 69 named it as one of their preferences, for 50 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Kirkby Stephen Grammar School is one of 17 schools run by Cumbria Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.2 in 2024/25.

Of the 49 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 74% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 10% into work.

Of the 24 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 50% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 38% into work. 13% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

2.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Kirkby Stephen Grammar School had 33 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pennine Hotel (outside), 240 metres away.

In 2024/25, Kirkby Stephen Grammar School issued 17 suspensions, 4.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.