John Ruskin School
105%
Capacity
242
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About John Ruskin School
Parents considering John Ruskin School will find strong signals that the community rates it highly. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period up to September 2025, a remarkable 96% of the 53 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That level of endorsement is backed up by very positive individual responses: 96% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and every single respondent felt their child is safe, with 79% strongly agreeing. The school is clearly popular locally too. For entry in 2025/26, it received 110 applications for just 46 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.39 to one. Of those 50 first-preference applications, 42 were offered a place. The school’s headteacher is Peter Blackburn, and it is a mixed, non-religious secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form.
Academically, John Ruskin School is performing well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.5 is rated as ‘Well above average’ nationally, and it ranks first out of 19 schools in the Westmorland and Furness local authority. For context, the average Progress 8 score across all schools in the same LA is -0.12, so pupils here are making significantly more progress than their peers elsewhere in the area. The Attainment 8 score sits at 48.4, and 63.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2019, rated it Good across the board, including for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. An ungraded inspection in March 2025 noted that the school had improved significantly since then, and it continues to hold a Good rating.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a sports hall, swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, and a library. There is a wide range of clubs on offer, from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Model United Nations to Eco Club and an orchestra. For pupils with additional needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 12.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is currently oversubscribed, so families should be prepared to apply early. John Ruskin is a strong fit for families who want a secondary school with proven academic progress, a happy and safe environment, and a genuine community feel, all within a relatively small school of 242 pupils.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Lake Road, Coniston, Westmorland and Furness, LA21 8EW |
| Headteacher | Peter Blackburn |
| Local Authority | Westmorland and Furness |
| Number of Pupils | 242 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.1% |
| School Capacity | 242 / 230 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Mar 2025): Improved significantly
Source: Ofsted, 21 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.50)
501st of 3,141
Nationally
51st of 445
In North West
1st of 19
In Westmorland and Furness
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
2022/2326%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 43 pupils).
- FE college53%
- School sixth form (stay)26%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained5%
93% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
53 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed46
110
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
50 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Source: jrs.org.uk. 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.1%
- White (other)2.1%
- Asian0.4%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
2
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
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 John Ruskin School
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
Lake Road, Coniston
Westmorland and Furness, LA21 8EW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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