The Lakes School, Windermere

In 2026, pupils at The Lakes School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Westmorland and Furness and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Westmorland and Furness and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.11: 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 32.3, against 44.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 58 families put The Lakes School as their first choice and 91 named it as one of their preferences, for 61 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

57 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Lakes School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).

Of the 90 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 47% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

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

16% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 12.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The Lakes School has a resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties: 4 places, 3 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lakes School (outside), 180 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson, other theft and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11).

In 2024/25, The Lakes School issued 81 suspensions, 18.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to The Lakes School are St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Windermere (1.5 miles); St Martin & St Mary Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles); and Goodly Dale Primary School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.