Academy sponsor led · Cumberland

The Whitehaven Academy

11–18Ages
859Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
146634URN

Cleator Moor Road, Whitehaven, CA28 8TY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

0.2 above Cumberland median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Cumberland

356 applications for 170 places · 4th of 16 in Cumberland

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.0of 90

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

5th of 19 in Cumberland

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 23 May 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		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

2.1applications per place, Year 7

0.2 above Cumberland median (1.9) close to England median (2.2)

356 applications · 170 places offered · 180 named it first

2026 2.1; Cumberland median median 1.9
2025 2.1; Cumberland median median 1.9
2024 1.9; Cumberland median median 1.5
2023 1.8; Cumberland median median 1.8
2022 1.8; Cumberland median median 1.8
2021 2.0; Cumberland median median 1.8
2020 1.7; Cumberland median median 1.7
2019 1.2; Cumberland median median 1.6
2018 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.8; as the previous school
2017 1.3; Cumberland median median 1.7; as the previous school
2016 1.9; Cumberland median median 1.6; as the previous school
2015 1.7; Cumberland median median 1.6; as the previous school
2014 1.8; Cumberland median median 1.5; as the previous school

This school
Cumberland median

Dashed bars: as The Whitehaven Academy (URN 140406), Whitehaven School (URN 112396), 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	170	356	2.1	180	1.06
Sep 2025	169	361	2.1	166	0.98
Sep 2024	174	337	1.9	206	1.18
Sep 2023	173	315	1.8	169	0.98
Sep 2022	169	302	1.8	122	0.72
Sep 2021	98	199	2.0	87	0.89
Sep 2020	128	211	1.7	116	0.91
Sep 2019	134	164	1.2	80	0.60
Sep 2018 *	111	165	1.5	58	0.52
Sep 2017 *	120	153	1.3	54	0.45
Sep 2016 *	105	194	1.9	93	0.89
Sep 2015 *	110	184	1.7	82	0.75
Sep 2014 *	108	193	1.8	103	0.95

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

101 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.05th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38%5th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 33% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths61%

Cumberland 56% England 66%

This school
Cumberland median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.24

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	101	43.0	38%	61%	–
2024/25	126	39.7	33%	50%	–
2023/24	127	41.7	39%	55%	−0.24
2022/23	76	34.5	16%	34%	−0.98

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

The Whitehaven AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

2.1applications per place 43.0Attainment 8
St Benedict's Catholic High School
0.6 km · Cumberland

Standards maintained2025

1.9applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
West Lakes Academy
6.3 km · Cumberland

Special measures Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 39.6Attainment 8
Energy Coast UTC
8.9 km · Cumberland

Good2023

22.5Attainment 8
St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington
11.2 km · Cumberland

2026

2.0applications per place 36.8Attainment 8
Workington Academy
11.5 km · Cumberland

Good2022

1.5applications per place 40.9Attainment 8
Cockermouth School
19.5 km · Cumberland

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Netherhall School
20.4 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 41.7Attainment 8
Keswick School
27.7 km · Cumberland

Outstanding2024

1.9applications per place 50.9Attainment 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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 146634 · 942/4015
Trust: Cumbria Education Trust
Capacity: 1,465 pupils · 859 on roll
Free school meals: 29.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 December 2018
Replaced: The Whitehaven Academy (URN 140406); Whitehaven School (URN 112396)
Address: Cleator Moor Road, Whitehaven, CA28 8TY
Local authority: Cumberland

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