Most sought-after schools in Westmorland and Furness

Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.

This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.

This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.

#	School	First preferences per place	Newest intake	Latest Ofsted
1	Chetwynde School Barrow-in-Furness, all through	2.13	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
2	Penny Bridge CofE School Ulverston, primary	1.53	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
3	Yarlside Academy Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.34	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
4	Dane Ghyll Community Primary School and Nursery Barrow in Furness, primary	1.32	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
5	Grasmere CofE Primary School Ambleside, primary	1.30	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
6	Pennington CofE School Ulverston, primary	1.30	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
7	Plumpton School PENRITH, primary	1.20	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
8	Calthwaite CofE School Penrith, primary	1.17	2026	Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
9	Allithwaite CofE Primary School Grange-over-Sands, primary	1.14	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
10	John Ruskin School Coniston, secondary	1.13	2026	Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
11	Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Penrith, secondary	1.11	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
12	St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston Ulverston, primary	1.11	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
13	Askam Village School Askam-in-furness, primary	1.07	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
14	St Mary's CofE Primary School Carnforth, primary	1.07	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
15	Kirkbie Kendal School Kendal, secondary	1.06	2026	School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
16	Queen Elizabeth School	1.04	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
17	Furness Academy Barrow-in-Furness, secondary	1.02	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
18	Alston Primary School Alston, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
19	Appleby Grammar School Appleby-in-Westmorland, secondary	1.00	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
20	Appleby Primary School Appleby-in-Westmorland, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
21	Barrow Island Community Primary School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
22	Beaconside CofE Primary School Penrith, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
23	Brisbane Park Infant School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
24	Brunswick School Penrith, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
25	Castle Park School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
26	Chapel Street Infants and Nursery School Dalton-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
27	Crosby Ravensworth CofE School Penrith, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
28	Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
29	Ghyllside Primary School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
30	Grange CofE Primary School Grange-over-Sands, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
31	Grayrigg CofE School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
32	Heron Hill Primary School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
33	Holme Primary School Carnforth, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
34	Ireleth St Peter's CofE Primary School Askam-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
35	Kirkby Stephen Grammar School Kirkby Stephen, secondary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
36	Kirkby Stephen Primary School Kirkby Stephen, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
37	Levens CofE School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
38	Long Marton School Appleby-in-Westmorland, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
39	Milnthorpe Primary School Milnthorpe, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
40	Newton Village Academy Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
41	Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
42	Ramsden Infant School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
43	Roose School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
44	Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
45	Samuel King's School Alston, secondary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
46	Sedbergh Primary School Sedbergh, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
47	Settlebeck School Sedbergh, secondary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
48	Sir John Barrow School Ulverston, primary	1.00	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
49	South Walney Infant and Nursery School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
50	St Columba's School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
51	St George's CofE School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
52	St Mark's CofE Primary School Natland, Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
53	St Martin & St Mary Church of England Primary School Windermere, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
54	St Patrick's CofE School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
55	St Thomas's CofE Primary School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
56	Stainton CofE Primary School Penrith, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
57	Staveley CofE School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
58	Stramongate Primary School Kendal, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
59	Vickerstown School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
60	Warcop CofE Primary School Appleby-in-Westmorland, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
61	Cartmel Priory CofE School Grange-over-Sands, secondary	0.98	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
62	Ulverston Victoria High School Ulverston, secondary	0.98	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
63	Ullswater Community College Penrith, secondary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
64	Dowdales School Dalton-in-Furness, secondary	0.96	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
65	Langwathby CofE Primary School Penrith, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
66	The Queen Katherine School Kendal, secondary	0.96	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
67	Yanwath Primary School Penrith, primary	0.96	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
68	Burton Morewood CofE Primary School Carnforth, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
69	The Lakes School Windermere, secondary	0.95	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
70	Dalton St Mary's CofE Primary School Dalton-in-Furness, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
71	Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Dalton-In-Furness Dalton-in-Furness, primary	0.93	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
72	Broughton CofE Primary and Nursery School Broughton-in-Furness, primary	0.92	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
73	Newbarns Primary and Nursery School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	0.92	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
74	St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Penrith PENRITH, primary	0.92	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
75	Walney School Barrow-in-Furness, secondary	0.92	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
76	St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, primary	0.91	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
77	Victoria Infant and Nursery School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
78	Cambridge Primary School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	0.89	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
79	Parkside Academy BARROW-in-FURNESS, primary	0.89	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
80	Holy Family Catholic Primary School Barrow-in-Furness, primary	0.86	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
81	Dallam School Cumbria, secondary	0.84	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
82	High Hesket CofE School Carlisle, primary	0.83	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
83	Low Furness CofE Primary School Ulverston, primary	0.79	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
84	St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, secondary	0.79	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
85	Croftlands Infant School Ulverston, primary	0.77	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
86	Church Walk CofE Primary School Ulverston, primary	0.71	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))

Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 86 schools in Westmorland and Furness have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Westmorland and Furness · How we compare schools.