West Lakes Academy
98%
Capacity
1,124
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About West Lakes Academy
West Lakes Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2025, a significant drop from its previous Outstanding rating in 2017. The school's Progress 8 score of -0.42 places it in the bottom 50 nationally and ranks 12th out of 17 schools in the Cumberland local authority. This means pupils at the academy achieve nearly half a grade less per subject across their eight best GCSEs compared with students nationally with similar starting points. The Attainment 8 score sits at 42, and just 36.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. In the sixth form, the picture is slightly more encouraging: the value-added score of -0.14 is within the average banding, and the average A-level grade per entry is C+, with a best three A-levels averaging a B-.
Ofsted's breakdown reveals serious concerns across the board. Leadership and management, along with the quality of education, were both judged Inadequate, while behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision all require improvement. The Parent View survey, based on 239 responses between September 2024 and September 2025, paints a stark picture: only 13% of parents would recommend the school. Just 41% of respondents agreed that their child is happy at the school, and only 48% agreed that their child feels safe. On behaviour, a mere 13% agreed that the school ensures pupils are well-behaved, with 46% strongly disagreeing. Concerns about SEND support are particularly acute — 64% of parents strongly disagreed that children with special educational needs receive the support they need.
The school is heavily oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 284 applications for 154 places and all first-preference applicants receiving offers. It serves a community with 26.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, above the national average. Facilities include a theatre, sports hall, science labs, and a sixth-form centre, and the school offers a wide range of clubs from debate to rowing. SEND provisions cover areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social and emotional mental health. Given the Ofsted rating, the parent dissatisfaction, and the below-average academic outcomes, this is a school that will require very careful consideration — particularly for families with children who have SEND needs or who are looking for strong academic progress.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Main Street, Egremont, Cumberland, CA22 2DQ |
| Headteacher | Stephen Grant |
| Local Authority | Cumberland |
| Number of Pupils | 1,124 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,124 / 1,150 (98% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Jun 2025Quality of Education
Inadequate
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.42)
2492nd of 3,141
Nationally
313th of 445
In North West
12th of 17
In Cumberland
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
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.7
'22/23
33.7
'23/24
32.9
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
2022/2357%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 170 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)57%
- FE college22%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained7%
- Employment5%
93% 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
2022/2348%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 97 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
2%
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)48%
- Apprenticeship24%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained5%
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- Sociology21
- Psychology17
- Mathematics16
- Art and Design13
- English Language12
- History12
- Design and Technology (Product Design)11
- Media/Film/Tv Studies11
- Biology10
- Geography10
- Physics9
- Art and Design (Fine Art)8
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.
Ofsted Parent View
239 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed154
284
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
154 families put this school as their 1st choice (54% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.8%
- White (other)2.8%
- Mixed1.5%
- Asian0.6%
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.
4
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 West Lakes Academy
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
Main Street, Egremont
Cumberland, CA22 2DQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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