Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School

Voluntary controlled school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Green Lane, Dronfield, S18 2FZ

01246 412372 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 11 July 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths53%England 45% · 2024/25
9th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 70% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,810Room for 1,809 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,804 in 2019, 1,888 in 2021, 1,872 in 2022, 1,868 in 2023, 1,881 in 2024, 1,854 in 2025, 1,810 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0294 for 301 places, September 2026
20th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 56% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 July 2023.

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 formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

289 pupils in this year group.

53% — 10 points above the Derbyshire average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 53% 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. 50 45 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.6 3.9 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: 57%This school 2023/24: 56%This school 2024/25: 53% This school England 45% 2022/23 57% 2023/24 56% 2024/25 53%

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.

292 pupils in this year group.

95% — 4 points above the Derbyshire average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 45%42%
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. 95% 91% 92%
School sixth form 45% 34% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 5% 13%
Further education college 42% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 5% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%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

181 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 60% 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. 36.5 33.0 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 38.5This school 2023/24: 34.9This school 2024/25: 36.5 This school England 35 2022/23 38.5 2023/24 34.9 2024/25 36.5

A level subjects, 2024/25

25 subjects, 430 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 56 21% 45% 40%
Psychology 50 6% 10% 19%
Chemistry 44 2% 23% 30%
Biology 37 14% 38% 27%
Business Studies:Single 30 3% 23% 16%
Physics 30 7% 23% 31%
English Language 28 7% 11% 13%
Geography 22 0% 18% 23%
English Literature 17 12% 29% 23%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 16 0% 13% 17%
Sociology 16 6% 25% 20%
Art and Design 13 8% 62% 34%
History 13 0% 23% 23%
Mathematics (Further) 12 8% 42% 59%
Film Studies 8 0% 25% 17%
Computer Studies / Computing 7 0% 57% 24%
Government and Politics 6 0% 0% 26%
Logic / Philosophy 6 0% 0% 19%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Spanish, Art and Design (Photography), Design and Technology (Textiles Technology), Drama and Theatre Studies, Design and Technology (Engineering), Design and Technology (Product Design), 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.

148 students in this year group.

92% — 7 points above the Derbyshire average, and 13 points above 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. 92% 85% 79%
Apprenticeship 10% 11% 7%
Work 19% 27% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%92%

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.

188 students in this year group.

81% — 19 points above the Derbyshire average, and 21 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 81% 62% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 29% 21% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
80%81%

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 offered301
Families who put it first294
Of those, offered a place291 (99%)
Families who listed it at all452

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
39th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
19.7% 30.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
21st highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.5% 3.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
19th 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
31st highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.0% 3.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
23rd lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 47% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.5% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
23rd lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 58% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.0% 21.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
10th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.9 24.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
10th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Lower than 73% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.2% 7.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils 0.32% 0.24% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
8th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 87% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.9 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 9th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 70% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.7 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
35th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Derbyshire.
Higher than 22% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.0% 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.

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School's Ofsted rating?

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 July 2023.

How did Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 53% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 7 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 294 families put Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School as their first choice for 301 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 291 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.