Classpot

Carnforth High School

Lancaster, LA5 9LSSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Dec 2021
Progress 8
-0.29
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
105 1st-choice / 132 places
Ranking
#2,216
of 3,141 nationally

About Carnforth High School

Carnforth High School, a mixed state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Lancaster, holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2021, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. The most telling exam metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.29, which places it in the 'Below average' banding nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieve nearly a third of a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points. The school ranks 4th out of 7 secondary schools in the Lancaster local authority area on this measure, and 53rd out of 90 schools of the same type across Lancashire. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 40.2, and just over half of pupils (54.3%) achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though this drops to 29.3% for the stronger grade 5 threshold.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressKellet Road, Carnforth, Lancaster, LA5 9LS
HeadteacherPaul Stanisforth
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils685
Free School Meals (FSM)30.9%
School Capacity685 / 754 (91% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

9 Dec 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (9 Dec 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 22 May 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
TheatreSwimming PoolPlaying FieldsSports HallGymnasiumSixth Form CentreICT SuiteScience LabsLibraryAstro TurfMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

Martial ArtsBadmintonSwimmingRoundersCricketTennis

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubArt ClubNewspaperBook ClubFilm ClubCodingDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:25

Source: carnforthhigh.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Carnforth High School

Carnforth High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.