Dene Magna and Sixth Form

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

Part of FOREST OF DEAN TRUST

Abenhall Road, Mitcheldean, GL17 0DU

01594 542370 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 8 October 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths60%England 45% · 2024/25
Joint 9th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 82% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,020Room for 1,125 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 855 in 2019, 1,005 in 2021, 1,029 in 2022, 1,030 in 2023, 1,022 in 2024, 1,006 in 2025, 1,020 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1176 for 165 places, September 2026
15th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 70% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 8 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

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
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

163 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Gloucestershire comparisons use the 23 of its 41 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 18 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
My child is happy at this school
9th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 79% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 88% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
10th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 80% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 90% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 9th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 83% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 54 parents whose child had been bullied
14th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 62% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
54% 52% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 113 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 12th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 67% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
77% 76% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 33 parents of children with SEND
Joint 5th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 60% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 67% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 9th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 77% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89%said yes 85% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Gloucestershire figures pool parents at the Gloucestershire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

167 pupils in this year group.

60% — 7 points above the Gloucestershire average, and 15 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 60% 53% 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. 52.6 50.3 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.5 4.4 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 45%This school 2023/24: 46%This school 2024/25: 60% This school England 45% 2022/23 45% 2023/24 46% 2024/25 60%

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.

170 pupils in this year group.

95% — 2 points above the Gloucestershire average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 34%45%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 95% 93% 92%
School sixth form 34% 46% 34%
Sixth form college 4% 11% 13%
Further education college 45% 26% 37%
Apprenticeship 8% 4% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%95%

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

71 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Average A level grade C- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 8% 34% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 22% 61% 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. 25.9 36.3 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 25.6This school 2023/24: 30.8This school 2024/25: 25.9 This school England 35 2022/23 25.6 2023/24 30.8 2024/25 25.9

A level subjects, 2024/25

20 subjects, 190 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
History 23 0% 4% 23%
Psychology 21 0% 5% 19%
Mathematics 18 6% 17% 40%
Business Studies:Single 15 0% 0% 16%
Government and Politics 15 0% 0% 26%
Sociology 13 0% 8% 20%
Biology 12 8% 8% 27%
Computer Studies / Computing 11 9% 9% 24%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 11 0% 9% 17%
Geography 10 0% 0% 23%
Environmental Science 8 0% 0% 14%
Physics 8 0% 25% 31%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: English Language and Literature, English Literature, Design and Technology (Textiles Technology), Art and Design (Fine Art), Design and Technology (Product Design), Chemistry, Mathematics (Further), Drama and Theatre Studies.

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.

81 students in this year group.

89% — 5 points above the Gloucestershire average, and 10 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 89% 84% 79%
Apprenticeship 6% 8% 7%
Work 33% 36% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
85%89%

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.

66 students in this year group.

48% — 11 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 12 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 48% 59% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 12% 22% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
75%48%

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 Gloucestershire. 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 offered165
Families who put it first176
Of those, offered a place164 (93%)
Families who listed it at all271

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1

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 Gloucestershire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
20th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 35% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
21.5% 19.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
13th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 70% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.9% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
13th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.7% 12.7%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 38th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 8% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.4% 9.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 78% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.7% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
11th lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 82% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
16.1% 21.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
15th lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
7.4 18.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
17th lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 72% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.3% 6.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 31st highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 30% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.9 17.0 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
23rd highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.0 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
34th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 12% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
6.9% 11.3%* 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Dene Magna and Sixth Form's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 8 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Dene Magna and Sixth Form do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 60% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 15 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Dene Magna and Sixth Form?

89% of the 163 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Dene Magna and Sixth Form to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Dene Magna and Sixth Form oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 176 families put Dene Magna and Sixth Form as their first choice for 165 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 164 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.