Dowdales School

Secondary
Local authority maintained
Ages 11 to 16

Ofsted: Good

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

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

150 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score41.8

41.8, 4.3 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths26%

26%, 19.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths52%

52%, 12.8 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc20%

20%, 20.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.41

3.41, 0.68 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

877 pupils on roll, with places for 1,050

Eligible for free school meals20.9%

20.9%, 5.6 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language2.4%

2.4%, 19.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support26.1%

26.1%, 11.3 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan6.4%

6.4%, 0.4 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

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
Website: dowdalesschool.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
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.