Academy converter · Cumberland

William Howard School

11–18Ages
1,312Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137252URN

Longtown Road, Brampton, CA8 1AR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodApr 2019

Standards maintainedUngraded inspection · Jun 2025

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

0.4 below Cumberland median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Cumberland

323 applications for 222 places · 13th of 16 in Cumberland

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.0of 90

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

8th of 19 in Cumberland

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodApr 2019

Standards maintainedUngraded inspection · Jun 2025

Inspection history

25 June 2025
Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
30 April 2019
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.5applications per place, Year 7

0.4 below Cumberland median (1.9) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

323 applications · 222 places offered · 202 named it first

2026 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.9
2025 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.9
2024 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.5
2023 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.8
2022 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.8
2021 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.8
2020 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.7
2019 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.6
2018 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.8
2017 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.7
2016 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.6
2015 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.6
2014 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.5

More applications per place than the Cumberland median in 1 of 13 years.

This school
Cumberland median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	222	323	1.5	202	0.91
Sep 2025	232	369	1.6	237	1.02
Sep 2024	217	310	1.4	215	0.99
Sep 2023	236	328	1.4	238	1.01
Sep 2022	233	321	1.4	225	0.97
Sep 2021	209	319	1.5	199	0.95
Sep 2020	203	275	1.4	196	0.97
Sep 2019	227	330	1.5	218	0.96
Sep 2018	197	303	1.5	189	0.96
Sep 2017	259	399	1.5	254	0.98
Sep 2016	243	393	1.6	224	0.92
Sep 2015	257	393	1.5	239	0.93
Sep 2014	247	385	1.6	239	0.97

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

219 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.08th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%7th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 33% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths58%

Cumberland 56% England 66%

This school
Cumberland median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.19

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	219	42.0	37%	58%	–
2024/25	208	45.0	43%	59%	–
2023/24	224	42.0	34%	60%	−0.19
2022/23	205	44.4	39%	63%	−0.36

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

William Howard SchoolThis school
This school

Standards maintained2025

1.5applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
St John Henry Newman Catholic School
11.9 km · Cumberland

Good2022

2.2applications per place 38.9Attainment 8
Richard Rose Central Academy
12.8 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
Trinity School
13.2 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
Richard Rose Morton Academy
16.3 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 41.5Attainment 8
Caldew School
18.8 km · Cumberland

Good2022

2.6applications per place 40.5Attainment 8
Samuel King's School
24.4 km · Westmorland and Furness

Remains Good2022

1.1applications per place 30.2Attainment 8
The Nelson Thomlinson School
29.8 km · Cumberland

Good2023

1.4applications per place 43.1Attainment 8
Haydon Bridge High School
31.6 km · Northumberland

Special measures 2026

1.1applications per place 40.5Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137252 · 942/5412
Trust: Cumbria Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,462 pupils · 1,312 on roll
Free school meals: 18.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: William Howard School (URN 112439)
Address: Longtown Road, Brampton, CA8 1AR
Local authority: Cumberland

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources