Bay Leadership Academy
57%
Capacity
724
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About Bay Leadership Academy
Bay Leadership Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.52 sits well below the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11, placing it in the bottom half of schools nationally and 67th out of 90 similar schools in the county. This means that, on average, pupils here achieve about half a grade less per subject than their peers across England, a gap that is particularly pronounced in open subjects (Progress 8 Open of -0.89) and English (-0.55). Maths is closer to the average at -0.31, and the EBacc element is the strongest at -0.29, but the overall picture is one of a school where academic outcomes lag behind the local norm. The school’s attainment 8 score of 34.6 and basics pass rate of 47.4 per cent at grade 4 or above reinforce this, though it’s worth noting that 73.7 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, a higher proportion than many schools.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2022 rated it Good across all four graded areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a significant turnaround from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was judged Inadequate overall. The sixth form provision was not graded in the latest inspection, but the school does offer a Sixth Form Centre for pupils aged 16 to 18. With 724 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,276, the school is operating well below capacity, and 49.4 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. This context matters when interpreting the Progress 8 figure: the school serves a community with higher-than-average disadvantage, and the Ofsted report suggests leadership and behaviour are now on a solid footing.
Bay Leadership Academy is heavily oversubscribed for its 147 Year 7 places in 2025/26, with 409 total applications and 219 first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.78. Facilities are strong for a state secondary: a theatre, chapel, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, music rooms, and science labs are all listed, alongside a library and ICT suite. The school also offers a wide range of clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, orchestra, choir, and debate, plus sports such as hockey, rugby, and martial arts. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering eight areas from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disability. For families in Lancaster looking for a secondary with good pastoral care and a broad extracurricular offer, Bay Leadership Academy is a popular local choice, though the academic data suggests it may be best suited to those prioritising personal development and a supportive environment over top-tier exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Osborne Road, Morecambe, Lancaster, LA3 1AB |
| Headteacher | Lee Waring |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 724 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 49.4% |
| School Capacity | 724 / 1,276 (57% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.52)
2634th of 3,141
Nationally
341st of 445
In North West
5th of 7
In Lancaster
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/238%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 118 pupils).
- FE college69%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment9%
- School sixth form (stay)8%
- Apprenticeship2%
89% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2336%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 11 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
4%
Russell Group
8%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- Employment45%
- University (HE)36%
- Further education9%
- Not sustained9%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed147
409
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
219 families put this school as their 1st choice (54% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: bayleadershipacademy.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.4%
- White (other)2.8%
- Mixed1.7%
- Asian0.8%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bay Leadership Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Osborne Road, Morecambe
Lancaster, LA3 1AB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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