Classpot

The Whitehaven Academy

Cumberland, CA28 8TYSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2023
Progress 8
-0.24
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
166 1st-choice / 169 places
Ranking
#2,102
of 3,141 nationally

About The Whitehaven Academy

The Whitehaven Academy is a popular choice for families in Cumberland, with 361 applications for 169 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.14. Of those, 166 first-preference applicants were offered a place, indicating strong local demand. The school is led by headteacher Nigel Youngman and currently educates 810 pupils, though its capacity is 1,465, so there is room for growth. A significant 30.8 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average, reflecting the school’s role in a community with higher-than-average deprivation. While the school does not publish a parent-view recommendation score, the high number of first-preference applications suggests that families who know the school well are keen to secure a place. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, a notable improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2016, with all inspected areas—including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership—now judged Good.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressCleator Moor Road, Whitehaven, Cumberland, CA28 8TY
HeadteacherNigel Youngman
Local AuthorityCumberland
Number of Pupils810
Free School Meals (FSM)30.8%
School Capacity810 / 1,465 (55% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

23 May 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 12 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
ICT SuiteSwimming PoolGymnasiumPlaying FieldsMusic RoomsAstro TurfSports HallSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

FootballRugbySwimmingCricketBasketballBadmintonDanceRounders

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChessYoung EnterpriseArt ClubDebateFilm ClubEco ClubOrchestraModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Whitehaven Academy

The Whitehaven Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.