Solway Community School
Wigton, CA7 4DD · Cumberland · secondary school
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19th of 19 secondary schools in Cumberland 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 — 0.0/10 against 702 of them, against 0.0/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 10.0 · 0 | 46% | 0.02 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.9 · 0 | 38% | 0.00 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 31.8 · 2 | 15% | 0.03 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Solway Community School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 8.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.9 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.1 out of 10 either way).
Getting in
The published school roll is 150 pupils against a stated capacity of 295. 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 close the attainment gap with the national median? What specific interventions are in place for students with a negative Progress 8 score?
What Ofsted said about Solway Community School
Overview
Solway Community School provides a high-quality education where pupils are “polite and kind” and contribute to a “calm and respectful atmosphere.” The school has designed an “ambitious curriculum” that prepares most pupils well for their future destinations, including further education and apprenticeships. Despite historical data not reflecting current strengths, most pupils achieve well and benefit from extensive opportunities for personal development.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate the school’s values of “respect, courtesy and compassion” and respond well to high expectations.
- The curriculum is carefully designed to ensure pupils learn “important knowledge” and are well prepared for each stage of their education.
- Staff provide precise support for reading, including phonics, helping pupils become “confident and fluent readers.”
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “fully included” and supported effectively alongside their peers.
- Personal development provision is strong, with pupils learning to keep themselves safe and benefiting from “well matched” work experience.
Areas to improve
- Staff should receive training to design learning activities that help pupils develop “sufficient depth of knowledge” in subjects.
- The school must ensure staff address pupils’ misunderstandings and gaps in knowledge in a “timely manner” so learning is built securely.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 24.0 |
| 2024/25 | 35.0 |
| 2025/26 | 31.8 |
| 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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