OFSTED
9 May 2024
Latest ungraded inspection
Latest published outcome
School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next
SCHOOL DETAILS
About this school
School type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
—
Local authority
Westmorland and Furness
Trust
KIRKBIE KENDAL SCHOOL ACADEMY TRUST
Census date
15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE
2025/26
School community
Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.
Total pupils
1,029
1,029 full-time ·
0 part-time
Female pupils
509
49.5% of pupils
Male pupils
520
50.5% of pupils
Free school meals
Pupils eligible for free school meals.
10.6 pts
below England
School
14.2%
Westmorland and Furness
15.0%
North West
28.5%
England
24.8%
English as an additional language
Pupils whose first language is not English.
14.8 pts
below England
School
5.5%
Westmorland and Furness
5.2%
North West
18.1%
England
20.3%
Young carers
Pupils recorded as young carers.
2.6 pts
above England
School
3.6%
Westmorland and Furness
1.2%
North West
0.8%
England
1.0%
Ethnicity
Largest recorded pupil groups.
White British
87.9%
904
Any other White background
5.1%
52
Any other ethnic group
1.3%
13
Indian
0.9%
9
African
0.8%
8
Unclassified
0.8%
8
Council, regional and national comparisons
are pupil-weighted using published school
census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS
2025/26
Special educational needs
Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.
Pupils with SEN
24.7%
254 of
1,029 pupils
3.9 pts
above England
England:
20.8%
England
14.8%
6.6 pts
above
England
6.0%
2.7 pts
below
PRIMARY NEEDS
Pupils
Most common identified needs
SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
2024/25
Key stage 4 outcomes
Published Department for Education results for 2024/25.
ATTAINMENT 8
Average attainment score
50.1
10.9 pts
above England
Latest published: 0.12 · 2023/24
Comparisons are averages of published school-level results for open schools. They are not pupil-weighted official local authority attainment rates.
ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE
2024/25
Attendance profile
Published Department for Education absence data for 2024/25. Lower absence rates are generally better.
ABSENCE RATE
7.11%
Overall absence
Percentage of possible sessions missed.
0.90 pts
higher than
England
School
7.11%
Westmorland and Furness
5.09%
North West
6.25%
England
6.22%
ABSENCE RATE
19.08%
Persistent absence
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
3.27 pts
higher than
England
School
19.08%
Westmorland and Furness
11.05%
North West
15.89%
England
15.82%
ABSENCE RATE
2.51%
Severe absence
Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.
0.70 pts
higher than
England
School
2.51%
Westmorland and Furness
0.87%
North West
1.75%
England
1.80%
Council, regional and national
comparisons are averages of published
school-level percentages rather than
pupil-weighted official absence rates.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
School context
Comparison with open secondary schools.
CAPACITY
Capacity utilisation
97.1%
4.8 pts
above England
Kirkbie Kendal School
97.1%
Westmorland and Furness
80.9%
North West
91.8%
England
92.3%
Benchmarks use open schools in the
same phase. Capacity utilisation is
calculated from published pupil and
capacity figures.