Schools by area › Westmorland and Furness › John Ruskin School
John Ruskin School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Community school
Lake Road, Coniston LA21 8EW · jrs.org.uk · 01539 441306
On the mapSearch near LA21 8EW
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Oct 2019
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 52.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Westmorland and Furness 45.4, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 13.50 mi
- 21.73 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Westmorland and Furness Council
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 247
- 17 over 230 places · 107%
- Local authority
- Westmorland and Furness
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 11.3%
- First language not English
- 0.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 13.50 mi (21.73 km) from the school. Source: Westmorland and Furness Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 52 families put the school first and 46 places were offered; 88% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 46 | 52 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 46 | 50 | 1.1▲ | 84% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 46 | 61 | 1.3▲ | 75% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 45 | 48 | 1.1▲ | 94% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 38 | 37 | 1 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 13.50 mi21.73 km | |
The council gives the furthest distance offered to the nearest half mile and says the cut-off was based on distance.
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 52.9, and 50% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲52.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲50.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲75.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼25.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.67 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 10.2 | −14.8 |
| Further education | 69.4 | +27.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 16.3 | −3.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2 | −3.6 |
| Activity not captured | 2 | — |
Ofsted
John Ruskin School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 15 October 2019, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in Mar 2025 found: Improved significantly.
- Outcome
- Improved significantly
- Inspected
- 25 Mar 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2019
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2019Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jul 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Mar 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Dec 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good
What parents said
96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (53 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 96%
- Replies
- 53
- 22% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 42% who had a child bullied
based on 24 parents (45%) with SEND