John Port Spencer Academy

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

Part of THE SPENCER ACADEMIES TRUST

Main Street, Etwall, Derby, DE65 6LU

01283 734111 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 17 May 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths55%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 74% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils2,034Room for 2,070 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,862 in 2019, 1,957 in 2021, 1,972 in 2022, 1,929 in 2023, 1,966 in 2024, 2,023 in 2025, 2,034 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0381 for 384 places, September 2026
5th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 60% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 May 2022.

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 attitudesGood
Personal developmentRequires improvement
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

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

320 pupils in this year group.

55% — 12 points above the Derbyshire average, and 9 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 55% 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. 51.4 45 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.4 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: 61%This school 2023/24: 55%This school 2024/25: 55% This school England 45% 2022/23 61% 2023/24 55% 2024/25 55%

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.

302 pupils in this year group.

93% — 2 points above the Derbyshire average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 51%31%
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. 93% 91% 92%
School sixth form 51% 34% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 5% 13%
Further education college 31% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 7% 5% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%93%

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

158 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 25% 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. 35.1 33.0 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 36.6This school 2023/24: 34.3This school 2024/25: 35.1 This school England 35 2022/23 36.6 2023/24 34.3 2024/25 35.1

A level subjects, 2024/25

23 subjects, 421 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 54 15% 30% 40%
Business Studies:Single 43 0% 9% 16%
Biology 35 6% 37% 27%
Geography 35 0% 17% 23%
Psychology 34 6% 21% 19%
History 32 3% 13% 23%
Economics 30 7% 27% 26%
Physics 23 9% 30% 31%
Chemistry 21 0% 24% 30%
Computer Studies / Computing 14 0% 57% 24%
English Literature 14 21% 43% 23%
English Language 12 0% 17% 13%
Mathematics (Further) 12 8% 42% 59%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 12 0% 8% 14%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 11 9% 18% 17%
Sociology 9 22% 22% 20%
Drama and Theatre Studies 7 0% 0% 19%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 6 0% 50% 38%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 6 0% 17% 15%
Spanish 6 0% 33% 34%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Textiles), Music, 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.

158 students in this year group.

93% — 8 points above the Derbyshire average, and 14 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. 93% 85% 79%
Apprenticeship 9% 11% 7%
Work 16% 27% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%93%

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.

157 students in this year group.

68% — 6 points above the Derbyshire average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 68% 62% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 22% 21% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
70%68%

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 offered384
Families who put it first381
Of those, offered a place368 (97%)
Families who listed it at all538

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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
18th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
17.7% 30.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
16th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.8% 3.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
17.4% 14.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
18th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 3.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Lower than 76% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.8% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
19.1% 21.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
8th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Lower than 60% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.0 24.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Lower than 67% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.7% 7.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.05% 0.24% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 2nd highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 89% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
19.2 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 82% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.4 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
11th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Derby.
Higher than 27% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.8% 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 John Port Spencer Academy's Ofsted rating?

John Port Spencer Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 May 2022.

How did John Port Spencer Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 55% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 9 points above the England average of 45%.

Is John Port Spencer Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 381 families put John Port Spencer Academy as their first choice for 384 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 368 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.