Schools by area › Westmorland and Furness › The Queen Katherine School
The Queen Katherine School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Academy
Appleby Road, Kendal LA9 6PJ · qks.org.uk · 01539 743900
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 48.8
- 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
- 910
- 62% of 1,465 places
- Local authority
- Westmorland and Furness
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 17.4%
- First language not English
- 7.8%
- 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, 119 families put the school first and 124 places were offered; 99% 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 | 124 | 119 | 1 | 99% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 168 | 166 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 178 | 176 | 1 | 99% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 140 | 131 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 151 | 137 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 48.8, and 49.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Westmorland and Furness it was 45.4, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲48.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲49.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲67.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼30.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.27 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 35.6 | −16 |
| Further education | 49.4 | +12.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3 | +2.4 |
| Employment | 2.5 | −2.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.6 | +4 |
| Activity not captured | 0.6 | — |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74 students | B- (35) | Below average -0.32 | |
| 74 students | B- (35.1) | Below average -0.33 | |
| 30 students | Dist+ (38.1) | Average +0.17 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 77 | B- (37.6) | +0.15 |
| 2022/23 | 73 | B- (38) | — |
| 2021/22 | 89 | B (41) | — |
| 2018/19 | 106 | B- (35.2) | +0.16 |
| 2017/18 | 91 | C+ (34.7) | +0.31 |
| 2016/17 | 96 | C+ (32.5) | +0.27 |
| 2015/16 | 103 | C+ (34.8) | +0.16 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 31.6 | −21.7 |
| Further and other education | 7.9 | +6.9 |
| Further education | 5.3 | — |
| Other education | 2.6 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 10.5 | +7.2 |
| Employment | 40.8 | +15.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.6 | −8.6 |
| Activity not captured | 2.6 | +0.4 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Queen Katherine School on 6 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Post-16 provision: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 6 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Post-16 provision | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2022Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Dec 2016Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate 16 to 19 study programmes Inadequate Safeguarding Not effective Mar 2011Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding
What parents said
86% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (221 replies, to 2 January 2023).
- Recommend
- 86%
- Replies
- 221
- 23% · 2 Jan 2023
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 29% who had a child bullied
based on 40 parents (18%) with SEND