This schoolOther secondary schools in Cambridgeshire
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 26 March 2025Ungraded inspection: Improved significantly
- 11 June 2019Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry417 applications · 261 places offered · 304 named it first
- 2026 1.6; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6
- 2025 1.5; Cambridgeshire median median 1.7
- 2024 1.5; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6
- 2023 1.6; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6
- 2022 1.4; Cambridgeshire median median 1.5
- 2021 1.3; Cambridgeshire median median 1.5
- 2020 1.4; Cambridgeshire median median 1.5
- 2019 1.4; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6
- 2018 1.4; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6
- 2017 1.4; Cambridgeshire median median 1.5
- 2016 1.4; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6; as the previous school
- 2015 1.4; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6; as the previous school
- 2014 1.5; Cambridgeshire median median 1.6; as the previous school
- This school
- Cambridgeshire median
Dashed bars: as Ely College (URN 137779), Ely College (URN 110883), the previous school.
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 261 | 417 | 1.6 | 304 | 1.16 |
| Sep 2025 | 258 | 376 | 1.5 | 252 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2024 | 259 | 383 | 1.5 | 277 | 1.07 |
| Sep 2023 | 259 | 413 | 1.6 | 312 | 1.20 |
| Sep 2022 | 292 | 400 | 1.4 | 294 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2021 | 263 | 343 | 1.3 | 256 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2020 | 263 | 354 | 1.4 | 256 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2019 | 233 | 330 | 1.4 | 221 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2018 | 202 | 285 | 1.4 | 169 | 0.84 |
| Sep 2017 | 184 | 258 | 1.4 | 159 | 0.86 |
| Sep 2016 * | 203 | 290 | 1.4 | 167 | 0.82 |
| Sep 2015 * | 235 | 333 | 1.4 | 219 | 0.93 |
| Sep 2014 * | 211 | 318 | 1.5 | 208 | 0.99 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 276 | 53.7 | 58% | 79% | – |
| 2024/25 | 284 | 49.7 | 54% | 74% | – |
| 2023/24 | 248 | 52.3 | 58% | 80% | +0.65 |
| 2022/23 | 211 | 50.0 | 53% | 71% | +0.39 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Ely CollegeThis schoolThis schoolImproved significantly20251.6applications per place 53.7Attainment 8
- 3.6 km · CambridgeshireRemains Good20231.7applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
- 6.8 km · CambridgeshireSerious weaknesses 20251.1applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
- 10.2 km · CambridgeshireOutstanding20241.9applications per place 52.5Attainment 8
- 14.7 km · CambridgeshireGood20231.4applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
- 16.5 km · CambridgeshireGood20231.4applications per place 52.9Attainment 8
- 18.5 km · CambridgeshireRequires significant improvement 20261.2applications per place 36.7Attainment 8
- 19.0 km · CambridgeshireGood20231.9applications per place 52.8Attainment 8
- 19.6 km · SuffolkRemains Good20241.2applications per place 39.5Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 143404 · 873/4012
- Trust
- Meridian Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,650 pupils · 1,635 on roll
- Free school meals
- 16.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2016
- Replaced
- Ely College (URN 137779); Ely College (URN 110883)
- Address
- Downham Road, Ely, CB6 2SH
- Local authority
- Cambridgeshire · East Cambridgeshire
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources