William Howard School, Brampton

From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher, it is my privilege to lead our inclusive and high-performing learning community, where we are deeply committed to ensuring that every student reaches their full potential and becomes the best they can be. Our school is built upon the foundation of Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience; values that are not just words but integral to our daily life."

In 2026, pupils at William Howard School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 40.4 in Cumberland and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 32% in Cumberland and 47% in England.

That is down from 45 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.19: 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 32.2, against 45 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 202 families put William Howard School as their first choice and 323 named it as one of their preferences, for 222 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

William Howard 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.

133 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about William Howard School (as of September 2025): 81% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).

Of the 224 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 71% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 42% to a further education college, 14% to an apprenticeship and 9% into work.

Of the 95 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 56% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 26% into work. 25% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

4.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

William Howard School has a resourced provision for severe learning difficulties: 7 places, 7 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Brampton Station Entrance, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is William Howard School (at), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 45 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 Cumberland (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, William Howard School issued 199 suspensions, 15.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to William Howard School are Brampton Primary School (0.3 miles) and Irthington Village School (1.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.