Furness College
| Type | General Further Education and Tertiary / Further education |
| Age Range | 16-99 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Channelside Bessemer Way Channelside Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria LA14 2PJ |
| Reference Number | 130633 |
Furness College is performing at a strong standard with some notable areas for improvement. The college has made strides in developing partnerships with local stakeholders to better understand and meet the skills needs of the community. Safeguarding practices have been effectively implemented, creating a supportive environment for students. However, there are significant concerns regarding the achievement of learners across various programs, particularly in A-level courses and adult learning, where too many students are not meeting their potential. Overall, while there are strengths in vocational programs and a commitment to improving teaching quality, further enhancements in curriculum design and support for learners with additional needs are necessary.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 13 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Needs attention |
| > Achievement | Needs attention |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Needs attention |
| > Inclusion | Needs attention |
| > Participation & Development | Expected standard |
| > Contribution to Meeting Skills Needs | Needs attention |
| Last Report Date | 10 Feb 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 10 Feb 2026 | Full inspection |
| 23 Sep 2025 | Monitoring visit |
| 24 Apr 2025 | Monitoring visit |
| 08 Oct 2024 | Full inspection |
| 12 Mar 2019 | Full inspection |
| 24 Mar 2015 | Full inspection |
| 06 Dec 2010 | Full inspection |
| 10 Mar 2009 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 27 Jun 2007 | Monitoring visit |
| 30 Oct 2006 | Full inspection |
| 03 Feb 2003 | Full inspection |
| 11 May 2001 | Full inspection |
| 26 Jan 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Effective safeguarding standards ensuring learner safety.
- Strong partnerships with local stakeholders enhancing skill development.
- High standard of work produced by learners in vocational courses.
- Positive student attitudes and supportive learning environments.
Areas for Improvement
- Low achievement rates in A-level and adult learning programmes.
- Inconsistent teaching quality across different subjects.
- Limited curriculum for adult learners insufficiently meeting employer needs.
- Inadequate support and adaptations for learners with special educational needs.
Points
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 25.87 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 25.21 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | C- | C+ | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | C- | C+ | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 3.4% |
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Unlock for £9.99| Name | Distance |
|
Hindpool Nursery School
Bath Street, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 5TS |
0.27 miles |
|
Brisbane Park Infant School
Blake Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1NY |
0.28 miles |
|
St James' CofE Junior School
Blake Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1NY |
0.34 miles |
|
Vickerstown School
Mill Lane, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3XY |
0.64 miles |
|
Ramsden Infant School
Thwaite Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1AN |
0.77 miles |
|
St Columba's School
Church Lane, Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3AD |
0.8 miles |
|
Greengate Junior School
Greengate Street, Greengate Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1BG |
0.93 miles |
|
Barrow Island Community Primary School
Trinity Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2SJ |
0.97 miles |
|
South Walney Infant and Nursery School
Amphitrite Street, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3BZ |
1.01 miles |
|
South Walney Junior School
Amphitrite Street South, Walney, South Walney Junior School Amphitrite Street South, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3BG |
1.02 miles |
|
St George's CofE School
School Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2JN |
1.04 miles |
|
Victoria Academy
Devonshire Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5NE |
1.1 miles |
|
St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow
Schneider Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 4AA |
1.11 miles |
|
Victoria Infant and Nursery School
Oxford Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5QN |
1.15 miles |
|
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Barrow
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Lumley Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2BA |
1.19 miles |
|
Parkside Academy
Greengate Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 9BY |
1.21 miles |
|
Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School
Mill Bank, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 4AR |
1.41 miles |
|
St Paul's CofE Junior School
Hawcoat Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 4HF |
1.45 miles |
|
Cambridge Primary School
Cambridge Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 9RP |
1.53 miles |
|
Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Ostley Bank, Newbarns, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 9LR |
1.54 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
George Hastwell School Special Academy
Moor Tarn Lane, Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3LW |
0.93 miles |
|
Walney School
Sandy Gap Lane, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3JT |
1.06 miles |
|
Furness Academy
Park Drive, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 9BB |
1.25 miles |
|
Moorfield Learning Centre
Moorfield Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA13 9RS |
1.43 miles |
|
Chetwynde School
Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 0NY |
1.86 miles |
|
St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow
Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 9LE |
1.91 miles |
|
Dowdales School
[Postcode LA15 8AH], Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA15 8AH |
3.76 miles |