SchoolScoresBeacon Hill Community School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Market Square, Aspatria, Wigton, CA7 3EZ
01697 320509 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 24 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | Wigton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 80% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 85% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 53% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 76% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 100% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 49% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 73% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 58% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigton. Higher than 62% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%said yes | 71% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Wigton figures pool parents at the Wigton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
13% — 23 points below the Cumberland average, and 32 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 13% | 37% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 28.8 | 42.3 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.5 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
23 pupils in this year group.
83% — 8 points below the Cumberland average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 83% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 4% | 37% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 57% | 36% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 13% | 12% | 3% |
| Work | 9% | 5% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 83% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Cumberland. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 34 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 34 |
| Of those, offered a place | 34 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 65 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 37.2% | 25.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.6% | 4.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Higher than 99% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 32.9% | 14.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Higher than 3% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.5% | 5.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Lower than 30% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 8.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Lower than 58% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.0% | 23.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Lower than 63% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2 | 17.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Lower than 45% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3% | 6.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Higher than 2% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Higher than 0% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.4 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Wigton. Higher than 92% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 25.9% | 14.9%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Questions parents ask
What is Beacon Hill Community School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 24 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Beacon Hill Community School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 13% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 32 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Beacon Hill Community School?
84% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Beacon Hill Community School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Beacon Hill Community School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put Beacon Hill Community School as their first choice for 34 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 34 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 112375.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.