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Academy converter · Lancashire

Carnforth High School

  • 11–16Ages
  • 657Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 145082URN

Kellet Road, Carnforth, LA5 9LS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Apr 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
4.2per place
1.7 above Lancashire median (2.5)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LancashireSelective

569 applications for 135 places · 5th of 81 in Lancashire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
43.5of 90
43rd of 81 in Lancashire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 14 April 2026Published 22 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 14 April 2026
    Report card · 4 Expected standard, 2 Needs attention
  2. 9 December 2021
    Ungraded inspection: School remains 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
4.2applications per place, Year 7
1.7 above Lancashire median (2.5) 2.0 above England median (2.2)

569 applications · 135 places offered · 100 named it first

  1. 2026 4.2; Lancashire median median 2.6
  2. 2025 3.9; Lancashire median median 2.7
  3. 2024 4.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
  4. 2023 3.8; Lancashire median median 2.6
  5. 2022 4.0; Lancashire median median 2.5
  6. 2021 4.5; Lancashire median median 2.6
  7. 2020 4.1; Lancashire median median 2.8
  8. 2019 3.9; Lancashire median median 2.7
  9. 2018 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.6; as the previous school
  10. 2017 3.7; Lancashire median median 2.7; as the previous school
  11. 2016 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.7; as the previous school
  12. 2015 3.7; Lancashire median median 2.7; as the previous school
  13. 2014 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.6; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Lancashire median in 8 of 8 years.
  • This school
  • Lancashire median

Dashed bars: as Carnforth High School (URN 119748), the previous school.

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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261355694.21000.74
Sep 20251325203.91050.80
Sep 20241435894.11260.88
Sep 20231505733.81170.78
Sep 20221485844.01501.01
Sep 20211315834.51441.10
Sep 20201325464.11621.23
Sep 20191315073.91240.95
Sep 2018 *1184093.51060.90
Sep 2017 *1164253.71161.00
Sep 2016 *1143923.41120.98
Sep 2015 *1033783.7980.95
Sep 2014 *1344193.11351.01

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

112 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.543rd of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%56th of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%
  • This school
  • Lancashire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.29
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)11243.537%57%–
2024/2512039.829%57%–
2023/2411640.229%54%−0.29
2022/2312641.524%59%−0.34

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

  • 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
145082 · 888/4167
Trust
The Bay Learning Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
754 pupils · 657 on roll
Free school meals
32.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 June 2018
Replaced
Carnforth High School (URN 119748)
Address
Kellet Road, Carnforth, LA5 9LS
Local authority
Lancashire · Lancaster

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