Dowdales School
Dalton-in-Furness, LA15 8AH · Westmorland and Furness · secondary school
14th of 20 secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 921 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6/10 among them, against 2.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 26.0 · 10 | 30% | 0.32 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.29 · 28 | 25% | 0.70 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 41.8 · 29 | 10% | 0.29 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2025-03. In 2024/25, 26.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.8, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.29 in 2023/24, meaning pupils did slightly worse than peers nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6 out of 10 among them, against 2.0 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils join Drama Club and Lego league, compete in swimming, gymnastics, and netball, and attend the Barrow Music Conference. Trips include skiing in the Aosta Valley, walking from Coniston to Barrow, and visits to France, Germany, and Spain. An after-school club is available.
Getting in. With 877 pupils in a school with 1050 places, there are 173 spare places. The school has real spare room, so a place is likely and classes are smaller than it is built for.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their Progress 8 score and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their attainment in English and maths? How does the after-school club structure its activities to engage different year groups?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
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