Schools by area › Westmorland and Furness › Dowdales School
Dowdales School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Community school
Dalton-in-Furness LA15 8AH · dowdalesschool.co.uk · 01229 469800
On the mapSearch near LA15 8AH
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Feb 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Westmorland and Furness 45.4, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · Westmorland and Furness Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 877
- 84% of 1,050 places
- Local authority
- Westmorland and Furness
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 20.8%
- First language not English
- 2.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Westmorland and Furness Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 153 families put the school first and 160 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 160 | 153 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 189 | 168 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 174 | 162 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 146 | 138 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 132 | 126 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.8, and 26% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Westmorland and Furness it was 45.4, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼26.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼52.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼20.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.41 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 10 | +1 |
| Sixth form college | 0.6 | +0.1 |
| Further education | 58.3 | −1.8 |
| Other education | 0.6 | +0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 21.1 | +3 |
| Employment | 2.8 | −2.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5 | −0.3 |
| Activity not captured | 1.7 | +0.6 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 5 February 2025, Ofsted’s outcome for Dowdales School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 4 Feb 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2018Ungraded inspectionConcerns
Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Jun 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (117 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 91%
- Replies
- 117
- 14% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 72% who raised concerns
based on the 38% who had a child bullied
based on 30 parents (26%) with SEND