The Lakes School
Troutbeck Bridge, Windermere, LA23 1HWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Lakes School is a secondary school in Windermere for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 160 schools in Westmorland and Furness. It ranks 7th of 20 secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 November 2019, report published 6 January 2020
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 January 2025
The school is warm and welcoming. Pupils feel well cared for and supported. They enjoy opportunities to contribute to all aspects of school life. Pupils are happy and enjoy school. Pupils, including students in the sixth form, forge positive relationships with their peers and staff. Most pupils are motivated to learn. They display positive conduct in lessons and during social times. This helps the school to promote a calm and purposeful culture for learning. The school sets high expectations for pupils' achievement. Typically, pupils achieve well. They benefit from a well-designed curriculum which prepares them for their next stage in life. Pupils and students value their extra-curricular programme. For instance, pupils relish taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, arts club and sporting activities. They take pleasure in holding positions of responsibility such as charity committee members and school councillors. These opportunities help pupils to build their confidence and self-esteem. Pupils embrace activities that help them to expand their skills and their understanding of the wider world. For example, some pupils enjoy taking part in international trips, theatre and gallery visits as well as outdoor adventures such as kayaking.
What the school should improve
- In a few subjects, some staff do not check pupils' learning as well as they could. This hampers how well some pupils build on their knowledge over time. The school should ensure that staff check that pupils understand the subject content well and use this information to adapt their teaching so that pupils achieve the best that they can.
- For a small minority of pupils, the school's efforts to remove barriers to regular attendance are not as effective as they could be. This means that some pupils continue to miss valuable learning time which hinders how well they achieve. The school should strengthen its support for these pupils and their families to help improve attendance rates.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
84 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
19 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
445 pupils on roll, with places for 851
Schools near The Lakes School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windermere School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 25.4 |
| John Ruskin School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 52.9 |
| The Queen Katherine School | 8 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 48.8 |
| Kirkbie Kendal School | 9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 50.1 |
| Dallam School | 13 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 44.1 |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Ms Sharon Rainey
- Phone
- 01539440810
- Address
- Troutbeck Bridge, Windermere, LA23 1HW
- Local authority
- Westmorland and Furness
- URN
- 112379
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.