Secondary school

John Ruskin School

  • Community School
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Westmorland and Furness
  • LA21 8EW
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Oct 2019

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 642 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 20%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 59%59%2016/17: top 24%2017/18: top 31%2018/19: top 45%2021/22: top 44%2022/23: top 24%2023/24: top 37%2024/25: top 20%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 852.9 · North West 44.49/10 Top 20%+21 pts
Grade 5+ English and maths50% · North West 40%8/10 Above+19.6 pts
EBacc point score4.67 · North West 3.829/10 Top 20%+10.5 pts
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.50 · North West −0.169/10 Top 20%
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 49 · 35 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 51.1 · 32 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 49.5 · 23 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 47.1 · 28 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 49.6 · 36 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 51.6 · 45 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 48.4 · 49 pupils · North West 442024/25: 52.9 · 48 pupils · North West 44.452.947.1No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 34% · 32 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 39% · 23 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 43% · 28 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 47% · 36 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 31% · 45 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 30.6% · 49 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 50% · 48 pupils · North West 40%50%30.6%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in88.5%
46 of 52 who put it first2024 · 75.4%2026 · 88.5%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st5246
2nd240
3rd110

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2025

  1. 2006Satisfactory
  2. 2009Good
  3. 2012Satisfactory
  4. 2013Requires improvement
  5. 2015Good
  6. 2018Remains Good
  7. 2019Good
  8. 2025Ungraded visit

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026247
Free school meals (past 6 years)12.0%
First language not English1.2%
SEN support43.8%
EHC plan12.4%
Absence (sessions missed)5.7%
Persistently absent pupils12.7%

Girls 47.1%Boys 52.9%

107.4% full · 230 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 53 responses (21.9% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school96.2% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school100% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved96.2% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 58.5% not applicable68.2% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year79.2% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 24.5% not applicable92.5% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?45.3% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 45.3% who said Yes above83.3% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child96.2% agree
  • My child does well at this school92.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing96.2% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school90.6% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school84.9% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development94.3% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent96.2% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher13.5
Pupils per adult9.0
  • Classroom teachers 14.3
  • Leadership 4
  • Teaching assistants 7.6
  • Other support 6.4

Teachers 18.3 FTE · Whole workforce 32.3 · 49 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£10,099
Spend per pupil£10,531
Staff spend per pupil£7,756
Reserve per pupil−£209
  • −£51,568revenue reserve
  • −£106,642in-year balance

Grants £8,996 · self-generated £1,111 · premises £509 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

49 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained95.9%
  • Education79.6%
  • Apprenticeship16.3%
  • Employment0%
  • Not sustained2%
  • Unknown2%