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Reviewed

Kirkbie Kendal School

State school · Kendal, LA9 7EQ
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 11-18
  • 1,030 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

This is a school that works hard for it pupils, gets to know them very well, gives the right amount of support but also the opportunity to fly and be an individual. Calm, assured and unassuming, they are getting on with it and largely getting it right.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
1,030 ·
Sixth form numbers
138 ·
Religion
None
Local authority
Westmorland and Furness

Headteacher

Headteacher

Mr Mark Harris

Since September 2021, Mark Harris, previously deputy head since 2009. Before that, he worked at The Lakes School in Windermere, first as head of geography then assistant head. He has also taught geography at Crompton House School, Oldham.

Entrance

The official year 7 intake is 168 which the school is now firmly sticking to after a number of years where the entry has approached 190 as a result of oversubscription and appeals. School believes that keeping numbers around 1,000, including 200 in

Open days
November

Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Heron Hill Primary School 31 %
Ghyllside Primary School 22 %
Vicarage Park CofE Primary School 12 %
St Mark's CofE Primary School 11 %
Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal 9 %
OtherUnkn 6 %
Where the number of students is less than 10 or the school a student attended before or after this school is not known.
Castle Park School 5 %
Stramongate Primary School 4 %
Data highlight

Exit

Post-GCSE around 60 per cent go on to sixth form with the remainder moving on to nearby Kendal College, apprenticeships and other training. School says this is a good example of students pursuing the courses that are best suited to their needs. Most

% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)

School
71%
LA avg.
0%
Eng. avg.
66%
Data highlight

What is this?

The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.

Latest results

In 2025, 25 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 57 per cent 9-5 in both maths and English. At A level, 34 per cent A*/A (52 per cent A*-B).

GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
48.8%
LA avg.
43.4%
Eng. avg.
45.9%
Data highlight

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

A levels or equivalent - Average points score (2024)

School
34.59
LA avg.
32.82
Eng. avg.
34.45
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Teaching & learning

Kirkbie Kendal is part of the South Lakes Federation which includes nine other local schools which are judged good or outstanding by Ofsted. Despite falling birth rates in the surrounding rural areas the school has been significantly oversubscribed

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • EPQ
  • GCSE
  • VRQ
55
Number of teachers
19:1
Pupil to teacher ratio

Learning support & SEN

2 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
13.6 %
Students with SEN support

Arts & extracurricular

Music, art and drama are popular and well catered for with two music rooms, three art spaces, drama and dance studios and a thriving arts club. The sixth form art room was inspirational with some lovely work and fantastic views over rooftops towards

Sport

School may appear to lack a sports hall, but take a closer look. Kirkbie Kendal is co-located with the Kendal Leisure Centre where they have their own changing rooms and separate entrance. This gives the school access to a six badminton court sports

Ethos & heritage

Founded as Kendal Grammar School in 1525, today’s school is the result of the merger of the boys’ and girls’ grammar schools in 1984. It is a no nonsense northern comprehensive which values and celebrates its long history while making sure that the

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Pastoral care is obviously a real strength here. Discussions with students and parents showed that it is strong and a seamless part of the school's ethos. Every member of staff we spoke to clearly saw pastoral support as an integral part of their

Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Mobile phones should be kept switched off in bags or in blazers. If a phone is seen then it will be confiscated.

Updated Oct 2025

Pupils & parents

One sixth former seemed to sum up a general view, ‘I am so happy here, I could not see myself anywhere else. When I thought of going to another school, I thought why would I when the staff here are so supportive and give so much of their time.’ They

1,030
Number of pupils

The last word

This is a school that works hard for it pupils, gets to know them very well, gives the right amount of support but also the opportunity to fly and be an individual. Calm, assured and unassuming, they are getting on with it and largely getting it

Inspection reports

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Short inspection: Good

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Leadership and management Good
Sixth form provision Outstanding

This school has not provided any information yet

If you are from this school, please, get in touch to feature images and useful information for parents.

Contact the school

Address

Lound Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7EQ
Get directions

Telephone: 01539 727422

Email: info@kksa.co.uk

Website: http://www.kirkbiekendal.cumbria.sch.uk

Local authority: Westmorland and Furness

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School data & information Kirkbie Kendal School Lound Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 7EQ
1,030 Pupil numbers
522/508 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
138 Sixth form numbers
15 % % of pupils eligible for free school meals
5 % Pupils whose first language is not English
19:1 Pupil to teacher ratio
55 Number of teachers
9 Number of teaching assistants

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Mobile phones should be kept switched off in bags or in blazers. If a phone is seen then it will be confiscated.

Updated Oct 2025
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by Kirkbie Kendal School and is updated annually. See the review

% achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
48.8%
LA avg.
43.4%
Eng. avg.
45.9%

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Average overall GCSE score (attainment 8) (2024)

School
49.30
LA avg.
45.90
Eng. avg.
45.90

What is this?

Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Improvement rates in core subjects (progress 8) (2024)

0.12 Score Average
≈ 35% of schools in England

What is a progress score?

This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. This is based on results in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Subjects entered at GCSE level (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Religious Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 23 6
Physics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 59 7
Physical Education/Sports Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 23 7
Mathematics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 167 6
History GCSE (9-1) Full Course 67 6
German GCSE (9-1) Full Course 75 5
Geography GCSE (9-1) Full Course 102 5
English Literature GCSE (9-1) Full Course 165 5
English Language GCSE (9-1) Full Course 166 5
Drama & Theatre Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 22 5
Design & Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 43 6
Dance GCSE (9-1) Full Course 16 5
D&T Food Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 39 5
Computer Studies/Computing GCSE (9-1) Full Course 20 4
Chemistry GCSE (9-1) Full Course 59 7
Business Studies:Single GCSE (9-1) Full Course 74 4
Biology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 60 7
Art & Design GCSE (9-1) Full Course 37 6

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
18.8%
LA avg.
15.3%
Eng. avg.
17.1%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
34.59
LA avg.
32.82
Eng. avg.
34.45

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Sociology GCE A level 26 B
Psychology GCE A level 19 C
Physics GCE A level 8 A*
Mathematics GCE A level 20 A
History GCE A level 12 B
Geography GCE A level 17 B
English Literature GCE A level 11 B
English Language GCE A level 18 B
Drama and Theatre Studies GCE A level 12 C
Design and Technology (Product Design) GCE A level 7 B
Chemistry GCE A level 12 A
Business Studies:Single GCE A level 27 B
Biology GCE A level 9 B
Art and Design GCE A level 12 A
Sociology GCE AS level 3 C
Psychology GCE AS level 7 D
Mathematics (Further) GCE AS level 7 B
Mathematics GCE AS level 3 B
Business Studies:Single GCE AS level 9 C

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 12 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 11 exit (average 2020-2022)

Year 13 exit

SEN overview

Kirkbie Kendal School is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

At Kirkbie Kendal School, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and achieve their potential. Our special educational needs provision ensures that students with a wide range of needs are supported to succeed academically, socially, and personally. We identify needs as early as possible and provide a broad, balanced, and adapted curriculum, allowing all students to access learning alongside their peers. Support may include individual plans, small group interventions, in-class assistance, or one-to-one sessions, always with the aim of building confidence, independence, and resilience.

Our SENCo works closely with staff, parents, and external agencies to ensure provision is effective and regularly reviewed. Parents are fully involved in the process, with open communication at every stage. We value student voice, encourage participation, and make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers to learning. Above all, we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where every child feels safe, respected, and able to flourish.

Updated Oct 2025
2 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
13.6 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

No information available from the school. Find out more.

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Short inspection: Good

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Leadership and management Good
Sixth form provision Outstanding
Our data explained
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