Anthony Gell School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of EMBARK MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

Wirksworth, Matlock, DE4 4DX

01629 825577 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 25 February 2015, before conversion
Grade 5 or above in English and maths42%England 45% · 2024/25
21st highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 45% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils776Room for 825 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 753 in 2019, 825 in 2021, 835 in 2022, 858 in 2023, 824 in 2024, 781 in 2025, 776 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0135 for 131 places, September 2026
9th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 66% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 25 February 2015. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

124 pupils in this year group.

42% — about the same as the Derbyshire average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 42% 43% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 45.8 45 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.8 3.9 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 46%This school 2023/24: 51%This school 2024/25: 42% This school England 45% 2022/23 46% 2023/24 51% 2024/25 42%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

141 pupils in this year group.

88% — 3 points below the Derbyshire average, and 4 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 53%30%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 88% 91% 92%
School sixth form 53% 34% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 5% 13%
Further education college 30% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 5% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%88%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

57 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 26% 22% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 53% 48% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 35.6 33.0 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 31.2This school 2023/24: 35.1This school 2024/25: 35.6 This school England 35 2022/23 31.2 2023/24 35.1 2024/25 35.6

A level subjects, 2024/25

16 subjects, 144 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Government and Politics 17 6% 29% 26%
History 14 0% 36% 23%
Sociology 14 0% 7% 20%
Geography 13 0% 23% 23%
Computer Studies / Computing 12 17% 33% 24%
Psychology 12 0% 17% 19%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 11 0% 0% 15%
Mathematics 11 27% 36% 40%
English Literature 9 11% 44% 23%
Religious Studies 9 0% 11% 22%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics (Further), Physics, French.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

71 students in this year group.

79% — 6 points below the Derbyshire average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 79% 85% 79%
Apprenticeship 8% 11% 7%
Work 21% 27% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
84%79%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

58 students in this year group.

67% — 5 points above the Derbyshire average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 67% 62% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 34% 21% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
75%67%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Derbyshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered131
Families who put it first135
Of those, offered a place130 (96%)
Families who listed it at all259

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Derbyshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
34th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
25.2% 30.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.5% 3.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
20th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.4% 14.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
44th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.5% 3.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
40th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 16% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.8% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
33rd lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 41% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.4% 21.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
6th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 75% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.9 24.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
4th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 86% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.7% 7.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.13% 0.24% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
22nd highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 61% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.3 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 35th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.3 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
27th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 33% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.7% 12.0%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Questions parents ask

What is Anthony Gell School's Ofsted rating?

Anthony Gell School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 February 2015.

How did Anthony Gell School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 42% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Anthony Gell School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 135 families put Anthony Gell School as their first choice for 131 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 130 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.