Queen Elizabeth Studio School
111%
Capacity
332
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Queen Elizabeth Studio School
Queen Elizabeth Studio School is a 14-19 state secondary in Westmorland and Furness that currently has 332 pupils on roll, slightly above its official capacity of 300. The school is oversubscribed, which suggests it holds a solid local reputation, though no parent-view survey data is available to confirm satisfaction rates directly. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in February 2022, the school received a Good rating across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The sixth-form provision was also rated Good. This consistency across the board is a positive signal for families considering the school, particularly given that the local authority has no Outstanding-rated secondary schools at all, making a Good rating the highest available in the area.
Academically, the school's results are mixed. At Key Stage 4, its Progress 8 score of -0.48 places it well below the local authority average of -0.12, and ranks it 17th out of 19 schools in Westmorland and Furness. Nationally, it sits in the bottom 50 tier, at the 82nd percentile. The Attainment 8 score is 41.5, and 62.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 30% reached grade 5 or above. EBacc entry is low at 9.3%, with just 6.4% achieving the benchmark at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school's value-added score is -0.39, classed as below average, with an average points per entry of 24.75 (equivalent to a D+ grade). Only 32 pupils sat A-levels in the 2023/24 academic year, so the cohort is small.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, science labs, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a sixth-form centre. Sports provision covers football, netball, rugby, dance, and cross country, while extracurricular clubs include Debate, Chess, Coding, Eco Club, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND support is extensive, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With its 14-19 focus, this school is best suited to families who want a dedicated upper-secondary environment rather than a traditional 11-18 school, and who are comfortable with a setting that is oversubscribed but not academically selective. The below-average Progress 8 and A-level value-added scores mean it may not be the first choice for families prioritising top-tier academic outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland and Furness, LA6 2HJ |
| Headteacher | David Waugh |
| Local Authority | Westmorland and Furness |
| Number of Pupils | 332 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.0% |
| School Capacity | 332 / 300 (111% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.48)
2575th of 3,141
Nationally
329th of 445
In North West
17th of 19
In Westmorland and Furness
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
'21/22
31.7
'22/23
25.9
'23/24
24.8
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2341%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 126 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)41%
- FE college33%
- Apprenticeship15%
- Employment5%
- Sixth form college2%
- Not sustained2%
97% 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
2022/2343%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 56 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
3%
Russell Group
6%
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.
- University (HE)43%
- Employment39%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education4%
- Apprenticeship4%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- English Language18
- Art and Design (Photography)10
- Art and Design9
- Business Studies:Single9
- Psychology9
- Geography8
- Biology3
- Economics3
- History3
- Physical Education / Sports Studies3
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.0%
- Mixed6.9%
- White (other)1.2%
- Asian0.3%
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.
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
2
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 Queen Elizabeth Studio 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Kirkby Lonsdale
Westmorland and Furness, LA6 2HJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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