School profile

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · Heanor, DE75 7RA

Outstanding

Map showing Heanor Gate Spencer Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,112 of 3,312

Worse than 63% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,225 of 2,536

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 27 Jun 2023

Ofsted rating
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,493
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Matt Jones
TrustTHE SPENCER ACADEMIES TRUST
Local authorityDerbyshire
Opened01 Nov 2011
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137606.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.43.4, worse than England, similar to Derbyshire45.246.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.57.7%, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire64.8%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.43.4%, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire44.5%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.7.7%, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire10.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths53.1%, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire59.8%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4196--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.34.03, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire32.9935
Average A-level gradeC+--
Average points, best three A-levels34.19, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire34.3435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC+--
AAB or better11.3%, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire15.7%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.05, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study126--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,493
Girls741
Boys752
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.31.1%
First language not English4.7%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,428
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25230
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.43
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.61
Average class size23

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
90%
Other White
2.5%
Chinese
1.4%
Other mixed
0.9%
Other Asian
0.9%
White and Black Caribbean
0.8%
African
0.7%
White and Black African
0.6%
White and Asian
0.5%
Indian
0.5%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher17.9
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.5
Teachers (FTE)83.5
Teaching assistants (FTE)31.55
Support staff (FTE)73.84
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2583.2
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2576.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/255

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.260
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.450
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.254
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.253
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)42

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Overall absence6.3%, better than England, better than Derbyshire8.1%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.13.9%, better than England, better than Derbyshire20.3%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.2.4%, better than England, better than Derbyshire3.7%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate5%
Pupils with one or more suspensions3.2%
Permanent exclusion rate0.1%
Permanent exclusions1

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.88.5%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.79.7%
School sixth form41.9%
Further education30.4%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.8.3%
Sixth form college6.9%
Apprenticeship5.1%
Employment3.7%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.84.4%
Higher education38.5%
Employment34.9%
Apprenticeship10.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.1%
Further education0.9%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Heanor Gate Spencer Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.4 miPrimaryCorfield CofE Infant SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Inadequate
0.5 miPrimaryHowitt Primary Community SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miPrimaryCoppice Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryMundy CofE Junior SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good
0.9 miPrimaryLoscoe CofE Primary School and NurseryAcademy converter
Good
1.2 miPrimaryMarlpool Infant SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.3 miPrimaryMarlpool Junior SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.3 miPrimaryRichardson Endowed Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.4 miPrimaryLaceyfields AcademyAcademy converter
Good
1.4 miPrimaryLangley Mill AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about Heanor Gate Spencer Academy

What is Heanor Gate Spencer Academy's Ofsted rating?

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, last inspected on 27 Jun 2023.

How does Heanor Gate Spencer Academy rank in England?

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy ranks 2,112 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 63% of schools) and 1,225 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are Heanor Gate Spencer Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 43.4% of pupils at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 43.4 (England 46.2).

What are Heanor Gate Spencer Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy was C+, and 11.3% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Heanor Gate Spencer Academy made 260 offers from 450 applications (1.7 per offer), and 253 of 254 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy has 1,493 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy had 1,428 school places in 2024/25.

Does Heanor Gate Spencer Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, Heanor Gate Spencer Academy has a sixth form with 230 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?

At Heanor Gate Spencer Academy, the average class had 23 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 17.9 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy missed 6.3% of sessions (England 8%), and 13.9% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.