Dowdales School vs St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in North West, England, 3.4 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Dowdales School
Dalton-in-Furness · Local authority secondary · Ages 11–16
877 students
St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow
Barrow-in-Furness · Academy secondary · Ages 11–16
624 students
| Measure | Dowdales School Dalton-in-Furness, North West | St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, North West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 40 Lower 50% | 23 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #292 of 536 | #406 of 536 |
| National rank | #2467 of 4,090 | #3310 of 4,090 |
| Sector | Local authority | Academy |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | Ages 11–16 | Ages 11–16 |
| Students | 877 | 624 |
| Pupils on roll | 877 | 624 |
| Free school meals | 20.8% | 28.3% |
| Capacity filled | 83.5% | 68.1% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 41.8 | 34.6 |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 26% | 23.3% |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 52% | 43.3% |
| EBacc average points | 3.41 | 3.01 |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Dalton-in-Furness | Barrow-in-Furness |
| region | North West | North West |
| Website | www.dowdalesschool.co.uk/ | www.stbernardsschool.uk |
The verdict
- •Dowdales School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (39.8 vs 23.2).
- •Dowdales School is the larger school with 877 students compared with 624.
- •Dowdales School is a local authority school while St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow is a academy school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Dowdales School better than St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow?
On the Success Index (England), Dowdales School ranks higher (39.8 vs 23.2 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Dowdales School and St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow?
About 3.4 km in a straight line, between Dalton-in-Furness and Barrow-in-Furness in North West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Dowdales School: 877. St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow: 624. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Dowdales School and St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow rank in North West?
Dowdales School is 292nd of 536 and St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow is 406th of 536 among secondary schools in North West on the 2025 Success Index (England).