Lakes College - West Cumbria
Fewer than one in five students go on to university — well below the England rate.
of 16–18 leavers started university · Cumberland 33% · England 37% · DfE destination measures, students who left in 2023
- Ofsted
- —
Ofsted: Not covered by Ofsted school inspections.
Where do sixth-formers go at 18?
DfE 16–18 destination measures · 450 students who left in 2023
7% went to university (England 37%). 21% started an apprenticeship (England 7%). 34% went into work and 27% had no steady place a year on (England 28% and 16%).
Most selective universities — the third of UK universities whose entrants hold the highest grades; the share is of students who completed level 3 qualifications.
Full breakdown7
| Measure | Lakes College - West Cumbria | Cumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 450 | 1,544 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 69% | 83% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 7% | 33% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 2% | — | 19% |
| Further education | 7% | 5% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 21% | 19% | 7% |
| Employment | 34% | 26% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 27% | 13% | 16% |
How do you get a place?
Admission is by application to the provider, usually against GCSE grades for each course; there is no distance rule.
- Dec–FebYear 11: apply directly; most close applications in these months
- AugGCSE results day: places are confirmed against the entry grades
Compare with nearby schools
More Cumberland schools3
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.