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 |
1.44 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 2 |
Dane Ghyll Community Primary School and Nursery Barrow in Furness, primary |
1.43 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 3 |
Calthwaite CofE School Penrith, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 4 |
Sir John Barrow School Ulverston, primary |
1.18 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 5 |
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Penrith, secondary |
1.13 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 6 |
Langwathby CofE Primary School Penrith, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 7 |
Cartmel Priory CofE School Grange-over-Sands, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 8 |
John Ruskin School Coniston, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 9 |
Ulverston Victoria High School Ulverston, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 10 |
St Thomas's CofE Primary School Kendal, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 11 | Queen Elizabeth School | 1.06 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 12 |
Samuel King's School Alston, secondary |
1.04 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 13 |
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 14 |
Furness Academy Barrow-in-Furness, secondary |
1.02 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 15 |
Allithwaite CofE Primary School Grange-over-Sands, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 16 |
Alston Primary School Alston, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 17 |
Appleby Grammar School Appleby-in-Westmorland, secondary |
1.00 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 18 |
Appleby Primary School Appleby-in-Westmorland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 19 |
Askam Village School Askam-in-furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 20 |
Barrow Island Community Primary School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 21 |
Beaconside CofE Primary School Penrith, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 22 |
Brisbane Park Infant School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 23 |
Brough Community Primary School Brough, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 24 |
Burton Morewood CofE Primary School Carnforth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 25 |
Castle Park School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 26 |
Chapel Street Infants and Nursery School Dalton-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 27 |
Crosthwaite CofE School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 28 |
Dalton St Mary's CofE Primary School Dalton-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 29 |
Grange CofE Primary School Grange-over-Sands, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 30 |
Grasmere CofE Primary School Ambleside, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 31 |
Grayrigg CofE School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 32 |
Heron Hill Primary School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 33 |
Holme Primary School Carnforth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 34 |
Ireleth St Peter's CofE Primary School Askam-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 35 |
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School Kirkby Stephen, secondary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 36 |
Kirkby Stephen Primary School Kirkby Stephen, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 37 |
Long Marton School Appleby-in-Westmorland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 38 |
Low Furness CofE Primary School Ulverston, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 39 |
Milnthorpe Primary School Milnthorpe, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 40 |
Morland Area CofE Primary School Penrith, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 41 |
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Dalton-In-Furness Dalton-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 42 |
Parkside Academy BARROW-in-FURNESS, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 43 |
Penny Bridge CofE School Ulverston, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 44 |
Plumpton School PENRITH, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 45 |
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 46 |
Sedbergh Primary School Sedbergh, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 47 |
Settlebeck School Sedbergh, secondary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 48 |
Skelton School Penrith, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 49 |
South Walney Infant and Nursery School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 50 |
St Columba's School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 51 |
St George's CofE School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 52 |
St Mark's CofE Primary School Natland, Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 53 |
St Martin & St Mary Church of England Primary School Windermere, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 54 |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston Ulverston, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 55 |
St Mary's CofE Primary School Carnforth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 56 |
St Oswald's CofE Primary School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 57 |
St Patrick's CofE School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 58 |
Stainton CofE Primary School Penrith, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 59 |
Stramongate Primary School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 60 |
The Lakes School Windermere, secondary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 61 |
Vicarage Park CofE Primary School Kendal, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 62 |
Warcop CofE Primary School Appleby-in-Westmorland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 63 |
Yanwath Primary School Penrith, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 64 |
Yarlside Academy Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 65 |
The Queen Katherine School Kendal, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 66 |
Ghyllside Primary School Kendal, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 67 |
Kirkbie Kendal School Kendal, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 68 |
Pennington CofE School Ulverston, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 69 |
Ramsden Infant School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 70 |
Walney School Barrow-in-Furness, secondary |
0.96 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 71 |
Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 72 |
Vickerstown School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 73 |
Brunswick School Penrith, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 74 |
Roose School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 75 |
Ullswater Community College Penrith, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 76 |
Church Walk CofE Primary School Ulverston, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 77 |
St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, secondary |
0.92 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 78 |
St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 79 |
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal Kendal, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 80 |
Croftlands Infant School Ulverston, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 81 |
Dowdales School Dalton-in-Furness, secondary |
0.89 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 82 |
High Hesket CofE School Carlisle, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 83 |
Victoria Infant and Nursery School Barrow-in-Furness, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 84 |
Dallam School Cumbria, secondary |
0.86 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 84 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.