Kirkby Stephen Grammar School
Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4HA · Westmorland and Furness · secondary school
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4th of 20 secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 7.3/10 against 887 of them, against 7.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 66.7 · 88 | 30% | 2.64 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.02 · 49 | 25% | 1.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.2 · 71 | 10% | 0.71 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 40.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.02 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.6 out of 10 among them, against 4.8 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 377 pupils against a stated capacity of 545. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while addressing the gap in similar-intake comparisons?
What Ofsted said about Kirkby Stephen Grammar School
Overview
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School is described as a "friendly and caring community" where pupils are safe and happy to attend. The report notes that since the previous inspection, the school has taken "determined and effective action" to address weaknesses, resulting in significant improvements across all aspects of provision.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from "strong relationships with teachers" and "strong pastoral support" that underpins their positive experience.
- The school offers a "broad, ambitious and well-considered curriculum," with increasing numbers of pupils studying languages.
- Extra-curricular participation is high, with pupils proud of their sporting achievements and involvement in activities such as the school production.
- Staff are "knowledgeable about their subjects," and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported effectively through personalised programmes.
- Trustees now have "accurate oversight" of the school’s strengths and areas for development, holding the school to account expertly.
Areas to improve
- Some staff do not use assessment strategies well enough to identify and address pupils’ misconceptions and gaps in knowledge.
- In a small number of subjects, some teachers do not design suitable learning activities, which hampers pupils’ progress through the curriculum.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," noting that procedures for keeping pupils safe have been prioritised and are now robust.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.6 |
| 2024/25 | 47.7 |
| 2025/26 | 50.2 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
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.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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