Settlebeck School
92%
Capacity
203
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Settlebeck School
Parents considering Settlebeck School will find strong reassurance in the parent voice. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, a striking 90% of respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That level of endorsement is backed up by very positive individual scores: 91% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 98% felt their child is safe. The school is also clearly in demand locally. For the 2025/26 admissions round, Settlebeck received 49 applications for its 33 available places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.48. All 33 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while the school is popular, families who put it first have a strong chance of getting in. This combination of high parental satisfaction and steady demand paints a picture of a school that is trusted and valued by its community.
Academically, Settlebeck School is performing well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.45 is significantly higher than the Westmorland and Furness local authority average of -0.12, placing it 2nd out of 19 schools in the area and in the top 25% nationally. This means pupils here make, on average, nearly half a grade more progress per subject than pupils with similar starting points across England. The Attainment 8 score of 47.8 is solid, and 70.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, saw it jump from a previous Requires Improvement rating to Good across all key areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, but the strong progress scores suggest they are well prepared for their next steps.
Settlebeck is a small secondary school with 203 pupils on roll, just under its capacity of 220. It offers a good range of facilities for its size, including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, music rooms, and a library. There is a broad selection of clubs and activities, from debate and eco club to choir, orchestra, and gardening. The school has a dedicated resourced provision and supports pupils with a range of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autism, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 10.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative intake. For families who value strong academic progress, a clear sense of community, and a school that has demonstrably improved under headteacher Sarah Campbell, Settlebeck is a compelling option in the Westmorland and Furness area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Long Lane, Sedbergh, Westmorland and Furness, LA10 5AL |
| Headteacher | Sarah Campbell |
| Local Authority | Westmorland and Furness |
| Number of Pupils | 203 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.9% |
| School Capacity | 203 / 220 (92% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 May 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 24 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.45)
567th of 3,141
Nationally
56th of 445
In North West
2nd of 19
In Westmorland and Furness
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
2022/2314%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 36 pupils).
- FE college36%
- Apprenticeship25%
- School sixth form (stay)14%
- Employment8%
- Not sustained8%
- Sixth form college3%
92% 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
80 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed33
49
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
33 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:30
Source: settlebeck.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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 British94.6%
- Mixed4.0%
- White (other)1.0%
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
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 Settlebeck 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
Long Lane, Sedbergh
Westmorland and Furness, LA10 5AL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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