The Queen Katherine School
63%
Capacity
917
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About The Queen Katherine School
The Queen Katherine School, a mixed state secondary in Westmorland and Furness, posts a Progress 8 score of 0.08, which is comfortably above the local authority average of -0.12 for its school type. That places it 6th out of 19 schools in the LA, putting it in the top third locally. This is a solid, above-average result in a region where many schools are below the national baseline. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 49.1 and its basics pass rate of 66.3% (grade 4 or above in English and maths) further reinforce that pupils here tend to leave with stronger outcomes than their peers across Westmorland and Furness. It’s not a headline-grabbing outlier, but it is a dependable performer that consistently beats the local trend.
At KS5, the school’s sixth form is similarly steady. With a value-added score of 0.15 and an average grade of B- per entry, students make slightly more progress than the national average. The best three A-levels average out at a B grade, and 24.4% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The school’s Ofsted rating has improved notably: it was graded Requires Improvement in 2018, but in its most recent inspection in 2022 it achieved Good across every category, including leadership, behaviour, and sixth-form provision. That upward trajectory is worth noting for parents concerned about consistency.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 290 applications for 168 places, with 166 first-preference offers made. That’s a ratio of 1.73 applicants per place, so applying early is essential. Facilities include a theatre, music rooms, an astro turf pitch, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school lists SEND provisions for a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. With 18.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a broadly representative intake. This is a good fit for families in the Kendal area who want a solid, improving comprehensive with a strong sixth form and a track record of beating the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Appleby Road, Kendal, Westmorland and Furness, LA9 6PJ |
| Headteacher | Jon Hayes |
| Local Authority | Westmorland and Furness |
| Number of Pupils | 917 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.7% |
| School Capacity | 917 / 1,465 (63% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.08)
1357th of 3,141
Nationally
139th of 445
In North West
6th of 19
In Westmorland and Furness
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.0
'22/23
38.0
'23/24
37.6
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
2022/2349%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 158 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)49%
- FE college38%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship4%
- 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
2022/2353%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 92 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
31%
Russell Group
39%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)53%
- Employment25%
- Not sustained15%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
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- Mathematics26
- Geography19
- Psychology19
- English Language and Literature18
- Sociology17
- Economics16
- Physics16
- Biology15
- History11
- Mathematics (Further)10
- Art and Design (Fine Art)8
- Design and Technology (Product Design)7
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed168
290
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
166 families put this school as their 1st choice (57% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Breakfast club
08:00-08:50
After-school care
15:20-16:30
Source: qks.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.2%
- White (other)6.0%
- Mixed2.5%
- Asian1.7%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 The Queen Katherine 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
Appleby Road, Kendal
Westmorland and Furness, LA9 6PJ
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