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catchment.school

Furness Academy Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Furness Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Barrow-in-Furness, Westmorland and Furness , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1188 pupils, and a capacity of 1200 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

1,188

Pupils

1,200

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2023

Furness Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Furness Academy?

The catchment area for Furness Academy is the geographic zone Westmorland and Furness uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Westmorland and Furness publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Furness Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Westmorland and Furness. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Furness Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Westmorland and Furness before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Westmorland and Furness catchment area documents →

Furness Academy: 1200 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Furness Academy has a published admission number of 1200 places. 1188 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1200, Westmorland and Furness's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 29.5% of pupils at Furness Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Westmorland and Furness.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Westmorland and Furness publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Westmorland and Furness school admissions →

Furness Academy: School Information

Full address
Park Drive, Barrow-in-Furness, LA13 9BB
Local authority
Westmorland and Furness
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
29.5% of pupils
DfE URN
135940

Other Secondary Schools in Barrow-in-Furness

If Furness Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Barrow-in-Furness are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Furness Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Furness Academy

What is the catchment area for Furness Academy?

The catchment area for Furness Academy is the geographic zone Westmorland and Furness uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Westmorland and Furness publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Furness Academy oversubscribed?

Furness Academy is operating close to its capacity of 1200 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Furness Academy?

Admission to Furness Academy is managed by Westmorland and Furness. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Furness Academy cover?

Furness Academy is a secondary school in Barrow-in-Furness, Westmorland and Furness, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Furness Academy?

Furness Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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