Welcome to West Lakes Academy

Welcome to West Lakes AcademyWest Lakes Academy is a vibrant 11-18 secondary school nestled in the western edge of the picturesque Lake District of Cumbria, serving a dynamic community of 1,200 students. Since opening in September 2008 and moving into our state-of-the-art £26m building in 2012, we have been committed to delivering the highest quality education in an environment that inspires success.As part of the ambitious Changing Lives Learning Trust, which educates over 2,800 students across nine schools and leads the One Cumbria Teaching School Hub, our academy benefits from shared expertise and a collective drive to transform lives through education. Our dedicated staff and exceptional facilities, including cutting-edge science and engineering resources, empower students to achieve their full potential.Our academy is proudly sponsored by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Limited, and the University of Central Lancashire. These partnerships underscore our commitment to innovation, excellence, and providing outstanding opportunities for all.At West Lakes Academy, our vision is to succeed in “Changing Lives through Learning” by offering exceptional opportunities for young people. We are passionate about creating a nurturing environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and personally.Our academy is a hub of innovation, inspiration, and opportunity, fostering success for students and the wider community alike.

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Boarding Type

No Boarder

School Type

Academies

Suitable Ages

11 to 18

Gender

Mixed

No. of Students

1,124 Total

No. of Boys

574 (51.1%)

No. of Girls

550 (48.9%)


Academic Excellence

GCSE Results

Latest Examination

10.7%

Students achieving A*/A grades (9/8/7)

A-Level Results

Sixth Form Performance

A* grades

6.11%

A*/A grades

17.22%


Leavers' Destinations

Destinations after GCSEs

Staying in education

77%

School

79%

England

Apprenticeships

10%

School

3%

England

Further education

School:29%
England:51%

School sixth form

School:47%
England:19%

Sixth form college

School:1%
England:7%

Other education destinations

School:2%
England:2%

Destinations after A-Levels

UK higher education

34%

School

1%

England

Apprenticeships

40%

School

19%

England

Higher education or training

School:91%
England:63%

Further education

School:3%
England:4%

Employment

School:15%
England:35%

Not sustained in education/employment

School:5%
England:26%

Exciting Updates Ahead!

We're currently gearing up to offer you a full list of our courses. Stay tuned — amazing learning opportunities are on their way very soon. Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm!


Exciting Events Ahead!

A detailed admissions process on ApplicaaOne is coming soon.

Please see our website for more information on our admissions process.


Updates Coming Soon!

A detailed admissions process on ApplicaaOne is coming soon.

Please see our website for more information on our admissions process.


Term Dates & Half-Term Holidays

Planning ahead for school holidays? Below are the term dates and half-term dates for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Autumn

2 terms

Half Term 1

Sep 1 - Oct 24

Half Term 2

Nov 1 - Dec 20

Spring

2 terms

Half Term 1

Jan 5 - Feb 12

Half Term 2

Feb 22 - Mar 31

Summer

2 terms

Half Term 1

Apr 19 - May 28

Half Term 2

Jun 7 - Jul 22

Half-Term & Holiday Dates

Autumn Half Term

Oct 27 - Oct 31

Christmas Break

Dec 21 - Jan 4

Spring Half Term

Feb 13 - Feb 21

Easter Break

Apr 1 - Apr 18

Summer Half Term

May 29 - Jun 5


Alumni Stories

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Updates Coming Soon!

We’ll be sharing information about the destinations of our alumni here soon.


Enrichment Activities

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We enrich provision beyond the classroom by providing a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits and enrichment opportunities.

Student Leadership Programme
Sports Team
International Travel

About School

RegionNorth West
Local AuthorityCumberland
Ofsted RatingOutstanding
Gender TypeMixed