Settlebeck School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of CHANGING LIVES LEARNING TRUST

Long Lane, Sedbergh, LA10 5AL

01539 620383 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 20 May 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%England 45% · 2024/25
7th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 50% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils203Room for 220 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 197 in 2019, 191 in 2021, 198 in 2022, 211 in 2023, 212 in 2024, 203 in 2025, 203 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.032 for 32 places, September 2026
Joint 7th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 61% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 20 May 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.

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

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

80 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.

StatementThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
My child is happy at this school
4th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 79% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 86% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 96% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 90% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
84% 81% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 25 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 93% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 53% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 58 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 90% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86% 76% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 93% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 71% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
4th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 80% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90%said yes 82% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 39%). 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.

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Results

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

34 pupils in this year group.

44% — 2 points above the Westmorland and Furness average, and 1 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 44% 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. 44 45.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.6 3.9 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 51%This school 2023/24: 43%This school 2024/25: 44% This school England 45% 2022/23 51% 2023/24 43% 2024/25 44%

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.

45 pupils in this year group.

98% — 3 points above the Westmorland and Furness average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 98% 95% 92%
School sixth form 20% 32% 34%
Sixth form college 2% – 13%
Further education college 47% 45% 37%
Apprenticeship 16% 11% 3%
Work 2% 5% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%98%

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 offered32
Families who put it first32
Of those, offered a place31 (97%)
Families who listed it at all48

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Westmorland and Furness

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 12 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolWestmorland and FurnessEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
16th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
13.3% 17.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 100% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.7% 4.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
14th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 58% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.8% 16.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 19th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 0% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.0% 4.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
13th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Lower than 38% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.0% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Lower than 59% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
21.8% 21.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
12th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Lower than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.3 15.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
13th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Lower than 53% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.4% 5.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.99% 0.23% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
17th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 3% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
13.0 15.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
18th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 1% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.0 10.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
12th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Higher than 49% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
13.1% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is Settlebeck School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Settlebeck School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 44% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 1 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Settlebeck School?

90% of the 80 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Settlebeck School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Settlebeck School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 32 families put Settlebeck School as their first choice for 32 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 31 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.