Dowdales School
Dalton-in-Furness, LA15 8AHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Dowdales School is a secondary school in Dalton-in-Furness for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 160 schools in Westmorland and Furness. It ranks 16th of 20 secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 9 July 2019, report published 10 September 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 4 February 2025
Pupils value being part of this warm and welcoming school community. Staff know the pupils well and support them effectively. This helps pupils to settle into school quickly. Pupils get along well with each other. They are safe and happy in school. Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around school is positive. They understand what is expected of them and follow school routines diligently. This creates a calm school environment. Most pupils enjoy learning. The school has high expectations of pupils' achievement. Pupils benefit from an ambitious curriculum that is clearly structured. This helps most pupils to progress successfully through the curriculum and achieve well. Many pupils benefit from a broad range of extra-curricular activities. For instance, pupils enjoy taking part in different sporting events, charity work and drama club. Pupils commit to taking part in all aspects of school life. For example, they broaden their understanding of the wider world through international visits. Some pupils take pleasure in visiting the school's partner school in Munich, where they can develop their linguistic skills. Other pupils relish visits to museums, universities and theatres, many of which are supported by national organisations that work in partnership with the school. This helps pupils to broaden their knowledge beyond the taught curriculum.
What the school should improve
- Occasionally, teachers do not design learning activities that help pupils to build on their prior learning in sufficient depth. When this happens, some pupils struggle to connect new learning with what they already know. They do not achieve as well as they could. The school should ensure that teachers are supported to deliver the curriculum consistently well so that pupils build a strong body of knowledge over time.
- From time to time, staff do not apply adaptive strategies effectively to support pupils with SEND. This hinders how well these pupils access the curriculum. The school should equip staff better to adapt their learning activities so that pupils with SEND achieve well.
- The school's strategies to improve attendance have not had the desired impact for some pupils. As a result, some pupils miss vital learning and do not achieve as well as they could. The school should strengthen its actions to overcome the barriers that prevent some pupils from attending school regularly.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
150 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
877 pupils on roll, with places for 1,050
Schools near Dowdales School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chetwynde School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.2 |
| St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 34.6 |
| Furness Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 42.4 |
| Moorfield Learning Centre | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Ulverston Victoria High School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 46.8 |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Ms Emma Aubrey
- Phone
- 01229469800
- Address
- Dalton-in-Furness, LA15 8AH
- Local authority
- Westmorland and Furness
- URN
- 112383
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.