Walney Academy, Barrow-in-Furness

In its own words: "Furness Education Trust is a Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales under Company Number 06895426 Registered in England and Wales."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is my great privilege to welcome you to Walney School. As Headteacher, I am proud to lead a school that is committed not just to academic excellence, but to fostering a genuine sense of belonging for every single child and every member of our community. I want every member of our school to thrive."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include basketball, guitar, cadets and homework club.

In 2026, pupils at Walney Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Westmorland and Furness and 47 across England.

27% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Westmorland and Furness and 47% in England.

That is up from 38.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.2: pupils made well 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 33.1, against 43.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 54 families put Walney Academy as their first choice and 85 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Walney Academy are Furness Academy (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.8); Chetwynde School (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.5); St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.5); and Dowdales School (4.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.1).

Walney Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

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

79 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Walney Academy (as of September 2025): 34% would recommend the school, 57% say their child is happy there and 35% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (68%); the weakest, that they would recommend the school (34%).

Of the 61 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 69% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 67% to a further education college, 13% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 102 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 35 (7.5%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Walney Academy had 21 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Walney School (outside), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 43 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Walney Academy issued 262 suspensions, 50.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Walney Academy are St Columba's School (0.3 miles), South Walney Infant and Nursery School (0.4 miles), South Walney Junior School (0.5 miles) and Vickerstown School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.