William Howard School, Brampton

Good
Secondary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Ms Kath Pigdon
Pupils:1,312 / 1,462 capacity
LA:Cumberland
Phone:01697745700
Address:Longtown Road, Brampton, CA8 1AR
Trust:CUMBRIA EDUCATION TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 August 2011

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Inspected 24 June 2025View full report
URN:137252
UKPRN:10034758
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Carlisle
Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

William Howard School creates a welcoming, purposeful environment where pupils from different backgrounds feel they belong. Teachers explain concepts clearly and check understanding before moving on, helping pupils develop strong knowledge. The school combines academic rigor with excellent personal development, offering something for everyone from young philosophers to unusual sports like table cricket.

Key Strengths

  • Ambitious curriculum with diverse subjects including archaeology, forensics and outdoor learning that broadens pupils' awareness
  • Effective teaching that helps pupils build deep knowledge and produce high-quality work
  • Strong personal development programme preparing pupils for life in modern society, including careers guidance
  • Inclusive approach ensuring pupils with SEND access the full curriculum with necessary support
  • Positive school culture where pupils feel supported and encouraged to make better choices after mistakes

Areas for Improvement

  • Some teachers in key stage 3 subjects lack clarity about the most important knowledge pupils should remember, affecting how well understanding builds over time
  • Reading support for some pupils in key stage 4 is underdeveloped, leaving a small number without timely help

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Extracurricular Activities

Young philosophers, table cricket, year group common rooms, sixth form reading support, open spaces animal care group

William Howard School has successfully maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. Pupils develop a strong sense of belonging and benefit from an ambitious curriculum paired with high expectations for achievement.

At a Glance

18.3%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

133 responses
Would recommend81%
Child is happy87%
Well taught88%
Good progress85%
Feels safe89%
Well behaved77%
Bullying dealt with17%
Kept informed85%
Handles concerns65%
Wider development82%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Class Sizes

21.6

Avg class size

58

Total classes

8 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

90%

Near capacity

1,312 pupils

1,462 capacity

150 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Brampton

Low pressure
New homes approved:452
Projected new pupils:81

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Brampton

Admissions Demand - Cumberland

Low demand0.89x oversubscription

Places available

3,150

Applications

2,811

Got 1st preference

97.2%

Got preferred school

99.4%

Secondary admissions across Cumberland (2025/26)

Inspection History(5)

24 June 2025
30 April 2019
Leadership & ManagementGood
11 October 2016
Requires ImprovementReport
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementRequires Improvement
Sixth FormGood

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

7.93357%

Overall absence

22.61307%

Persistent absence

1,194

Enrolments

Authorised5.63636%
Unauthorised2.29721%
Persistent (10%+)22.61307%
Severe (50%+)3.51759%

Absence trend

5.50561%
18/19
5.36169%
20/21
9.22461%
21/22
8.59323%
22/23
9.19078%
23/24
7.93357%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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