Arthur Mellows Village College
96%
Capacity
1,651
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Arthur Mellows Village College
Arthur Mellows Village College sits right around the Peterborough average for Progress 8, with a score of -0.02 compared to the local authority average of 0.03. That difference is tiny, so academically the school is broadly in line with its LA peers. Where it stands out more clearly is in its Ofsted profile. The school was inspected in May 2025 and while it wasn't given an overall effectiveness grade, it received Outstanding ratings for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and its sixth-form provision. The quality of education was judged Good. That's a shift from its previous inspection in 2014, when it was rated Outstanding overall. The school is large, with 1,651 pupils on a capacity of 1,720, and it's heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 539 applications for 257 places, with 292 first-preference applications and 239 first-preference offers.
At Key Stage 4, the school's Attainment 8 score is 46, and 68.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 43.1% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.79, though only 13.4% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. The Progress 8 banding is rated as Average, and the school ranks 9th out of 12 schools in Peterborough on this measure. At Key Stage 5, the picture is stronger: the sixth form's value-added score is 0.13, which is rated Above average, and the average points per entry is 35.78, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at 36.17 points, also a B-. The sixth form was judged Outstanding by Ofsted, and 11.4% of students achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. Nationally, the school sits around the middle of the pack, ranked 1,564th out of 3,141 schools for Progress 8.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and music rooms, plus clubs such as Coding, Young Enterprise, and Model UN. It has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre and a library. SEND provisions cover nine categories including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs. Parent feedback is strong: 84% of respondents would recommend the school, and 87% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying will need to be aware of the competition for places. It suits families looking for a large, well-resourced secondary with a strong sixth form and a clear focus on behaviour and personal development, set within the Peterborough area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Helpston Road, Peterborough, Peterborough, PE6 7JX |
| Headteacher | John Gilligan |
| Local Authority | Peterborough |
| Number of Pupils | 1,651 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,651 / 1,720 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 May 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.02)
1564th of 3,141
Nationally
177th of 350
In East of England
9th of 12
In Peterborough
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
40.5
'22/23
36.8
'23/24
35.8
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2363%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 259 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)63%
- FE college31%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
98% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2364%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 192 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
28%
Russell Group
31%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)64%
- Employment23%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained3%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology38
- Biology28
- Geography27
- Mathematics27
- Sociology25
- Chemistry22
- Business Studies:Single19
- Economics18
- History17
- English Literature15
- Religious Studies11
- Film Studies10
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
292 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed257
539
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
292 families put this school as their 1st choice (54% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British77.8%
- Mixed7.3%
- Asian5.8%
- White (other)4.7%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Arthur Mellows Village College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Helpston Road, Peterborough
Peterborough, PE6 7JX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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