Samuel King's School
46%
Capacity
107
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Samuel King's School
Samuel King's School is a small secondary in Westmorland and Furness, with just 107 pupils on roll against a capacity of 235, meaning it is significantly under-enrolled. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 19.6%, which is above the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite the spare capacity, the school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 31 applications for 23 places, with 22 offers going to first-preference applicants. This demand signal is notable given the school's size and suggests a strong local reputation. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for pupils aged 11 to 16 with no sixth form. It is led by headteacher Rob Dawson.
Academically, Samuel King's School is rated Good by Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2015. In its most recent graded inspection in 2017, leadership and management were also judged Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. Exam results for 2023/24 show a Progress 8 score of -0.24, which is below the local authority average of -0.12 and places the school 12th out of 19 secondaries in Westmorland and Furness. Attainment 8 stands at 36.4, and 53.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 23.1% achieved a grade 5 or above. EBacc entry is low at 7.7%, and the EBacc average point score is 2.92. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom half for Progress 8, at the 66th percentile.
The school offers a range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, astro turf, and a theatre, and pupils can take part in sports such as rowing, rugby, and martial arts, as well as clubs like coding, Model UN, and choir. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering this school, the small size and strong local demand suggest a close-knit environment where pupils are well known. The lack of a sixth form means pupils will need to transition elsewhere post-16. Given the below-average Progress 8 and low EBacc entry, parents prioritising strong academic outcomes may want to compare with higher-ranked local peers such as John Ruskin School or Queen Elizabeth School.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Church Road, Alston, Westmorland and Furness, CA9 3QU |
| Headteacher | Rob Dawson |
| Local Authority | Westmorland and Furness |
| Number of Pupils | 107 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.6% |
| School Capacity | 107 / 235 (46% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Jul 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (6 Jul 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 7 Apr 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.24)
2097th of 3,141
Nationally
254th of 445
In North West
12th 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2331%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 16 pupils).
- FE college56%
- School sixth form (stay)31%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
100% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed23
31
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
24 families put this school as their 1st choice (77% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:30
Source: alstonmoorfederation.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better 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 British87.9%
- White (other)0.9%
- Mixed0.9%
- Asian0.9%
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.
⚠ 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 Samuel King's 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
Church Road, Alston
Westmorland and Furness, CA9 3QU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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