SchoolScoresDowdales School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Dalton-in-Furness, LA15 8AH
01229 469800 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 November 2013.
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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 5 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
117 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Westmorland and Furness comparisons use the 9 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 11 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 86% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 73% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 81% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 44 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 82% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 61% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 84 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 79% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 76% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 30 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 87% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 71% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Westmorland and Furness figures pool parents at the Westmorland and Furness 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
150 pupils in this year group.
26% — 16 points below the Westmorland and Furness average, and 19 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 26% | 42% | 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. | 41.8 | 45.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.4 | 3.9 | 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.
178 pupils in this year group.
93% — 2 points below the Westmorland and Furness average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 95% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 9% | 32% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 61% | 45% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 18% | 11% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 5% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 93% |
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 Westmorland and Furness. 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 | 160 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 153 |
| Of those, offered a place | 153 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 360 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 6 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Other difficulties or disabilities; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Westmorland and Furness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 21.2% | 17.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 4.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.6% | 16.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 11th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.9% | 4.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 17th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 31% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.4% | 8.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 17th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 26.9% | 21.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 70% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.2 | 15.3 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Lower than 63% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.2% | 5.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.23% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 3rd highest of 19 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 82% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.5 | 15.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 5th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.9 | 10.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 14th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Higher than 42% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.0% | 20.8%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Chetwynde School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dowdales School's Ofsted rating?
Dowdales School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 November 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 5 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Dowdales School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 26% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 19 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Dowdales School?
91% of the 117 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Dowdales School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Dowdales School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 153 families put Dowdales School as their first choice for 160 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 153 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 112383.
- 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.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.