Morecambe Bay Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE BAY LEARNING TRUST

Dallam Avenue, Morecambe, LA4 5BG

01524 410207 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 20 September 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths22%England 45% · 2024/25
80th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 5% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,045Room for 1,539 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,240 in 2019, 1,132 in 2021, 1,074 in 2022, 1,050 in 2023, 1,047 in 2024, 1,019 in 2025, 1,045 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.7159 for 214 places, September 2026
69th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 20% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 September 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

98 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Lancashire comparisons use the 31 of its 83 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 52 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.

StatementThis schoolLancashireEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 26th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 17% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 78% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 26th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 16% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71% 83% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
30th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 8% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 74% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 38 parents whose child had been bullied
25th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 11% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
32% 47% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 83 parents who had raised a concern
27th highest of 29 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 11% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
47% 65% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
28th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 12% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
53%said yes 74% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Lancashire figures pool parents at the Lancashire 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.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

147 pupils in this year group.

22% — 22 points below the Lancashire average, and 24 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 22% 44% 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. 36.8 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.0 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 16%This school 2023/24: 20%This school 2024/25: 22% This school England 45% 2022/23 16% 2023/24 20% 2024/25 22%

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.

196 pupils in this year group.

90% — about the same as the Lancashire average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 21%57%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 90% 90% 92%
School sixth form 21% 12% 34%
Sixth form college 2% 20% 13%
Further education college 57% 48% 37%
Apprenticeship 8% 5% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%90%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

34 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Average A level grade C- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 14% 30% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 24% 56% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 26.8 36.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 28.2This school 2023/24: 26.0This school 2024/25: 26.8 This school England 35 2022/23 28.2 2023/24 26.0 2024/25 26.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

15 subjects, 63 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Business Studies:Single 13 0% 0% 16%
English Language 7 0% 0% 13%
Psychology 7 0% 0% 19%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), Art and Design (Photography), Sociology, History, Biology, Mathematics, Polish, English Literature, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Urdu.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

76 students in this year group.

78% — 2 points below the Lancashire average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 78% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 5% 10% 7%
Work 32% 29% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
84%78%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

76 students in this year group.

43% — 14 points below the Lancashire average, and 17 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 43% 57% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 12% 20% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
58%43%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 Lancashire. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered214
Families who put it first159
Of those, offered a place159 (100%)
Families who listed it at all407

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.7

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
15th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
40.5% 26.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
21st highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 2.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 99% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
29.3% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 33rd highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.5% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
77th lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Lower than 6% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
12.6% 8.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
76th lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Lower than 6% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
37.0% 22.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
79th lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Lower than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
60.3 21.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
81st lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Lower than 3% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
21.3% 8.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded17 pupils 1.67% 0.53% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 6th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 86% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.8 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 46th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.5 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 47th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire.
Higher than 33% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.7% 12.5%* 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Morecambe Bay Academy's Ofsted rating?

Morecambe Bay Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 September 2023.

How did Morecambe Bay Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 22% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 24 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Morecambe Bay Academy?

53% of the 98 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Morecambe Bay Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Morecambe Bay Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 159 families put Morecambe Bay Academy as their first choice for 214 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 159 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.