Sandgate School, Kendal
Sandgate School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Kendal. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Sandgate School in detail
Sandgate School in its own words
In its own words: "We hope that you manage to get a flavour of who we are through viewing the amazing things that we do. The curriculum at Sandgate School is focused on individual pathways, we offer a route through school that strives towards our vision of ‘Achievement For All’."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Sandgate School are South Lakes Academy (0.6 miles, Good); Cambian Whinfell School (1 mile, Outstanding, selective); Appletree School (2.6 miles, Good, selective); and Cairn Education CIC (4.5 miles, Good).
South Lakes AcademyCambian Whinfell SchoolAppletree SchoolCairn Education CIC
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
32.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Sandgate School has an education, health and care plan (164 of 166 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Sandgate School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kendal Rail Station, about 390 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodgate (near), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 144 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Sandgate School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2012 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
32.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Speech and language +3
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with Sandgate School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sandgate School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sandgate School is in Westmorland and Furness; for families living there:
- Westmorland and Furness's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy 2027 to 2028 (Reception to Year 11)
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
166 pupils
160 places
6 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Kendal
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Kendal
Across Westmorland and Furness council
Places available
2,857
Applications
1,903
Got 1st preference
96.4%
Got preferred school
99.5%
All secondary applications across Westmorland and Furness council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
164
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Sandgate School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
166
Total Pupils
109
Boys
57
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£39,955
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.6%
Overall absence
29.7%
Persistent absence
111
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Sandgate School
What are GCSE results like at Sandgate School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Sandgate School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.4. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Sandgate School's Ofsted rating?
Sandgate School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Sandgate School?
No fixed boundary. When Sandgate School is oversubscribed, Westmorland and Furness allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Sandgate School?
Sandgate School has around 166 pupils on roll. 33% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Sandgate School have specialist SEN provision?
Sandgate School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Sandgate School?
9.6% of sessions were missed at Sandgate School in 2024/25. 29.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sandgate School?
Apply through Westmorland and Furness's coordinated admissions process, naming Sandgate School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Sandgate School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Westmorland and Furness is 3 (the median across 161 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sandgate School?
Sandgate School is at Sandylands Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6JG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)