Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School
102%
Capacity
1,854
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 496 applications for 306 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.62. Of those applications, 307 were first-preference choices, and 297 of those first-preference families received an offer. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the community, though it's worth noting that the school does not publish a parent-view survey percentage, so we can't quantify satisfaction directly. The school is a large, mixed, non-denominational secondary in North East Derbyshire, with a headteacher named Martyn Cooper. It has a capacity of 1,809 but currently houses 1,854 pupils, meaning it is operating slightly above its official capacity. Around 18.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is in line with the national average for a state secondary.
Academically, Dronfield Henry Fanshawe performs solidly. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2015, but the inspectors clearly still see significant strengths. At GCSE, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.08, meaning they make slightly more progress than the national average, and well above the Derbyshire local authority average of -0.11. The Attainment 8 score sits at 50.9, with 75% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 59.7%, and 39% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school's value-added score is 0.04, and the average A-level grade per entry is C+, with a best three A-levels average of B-.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, playing fields, science labs, art studios, a library, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports on offer include swimming, football, rugby, cricket, tennis, badminton, and martial arts, while clubs cover drama, coding, choir, orchestra, gardening, book club, debate, Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise, and Model UN. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. Given its size, oversubscription, and strong but not exceptional results, this school will suit families who want a large, well-established comprehensive with a good sixth form and plenty of extracurricular options, but who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Green Lane, Dronfield, North East Derbyshire, S18 2FZ |
| Headteacher | Martyn Cooper |
| Local Authority | Derbyshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,854 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,854 / 1,809 (102% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 27 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.08)
1356th of 3,141
Nationally
104th of 273
In East Midlands
1st of 3
In North East Derbyshire
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
41.4
'22/23
38.5
'23/24
34.9
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
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 297 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- FE college39%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained4%
- Employment3%
96% 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
2022/2373%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 188 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
31%
Russell Group
32%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)73%
- Employment15%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
- Further 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- Psychology54
- Biology49
- Chemistry38
- Mathematics36
- Sociology23
- Business Studies:Single22
- Physics18
- Geography17
- Physical Education / Sports Studies15
- History14
- English Literature12
- Drama and Theatre Studies9
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed306
496
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
307 families put this school as their 1st choice (62% 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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.7%
- Mixed4.4%
- White (other)1.9%
- Asian1.8%
- Black0.1%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
7
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
6
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School
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
Green Lane, Dronfield
North East Derbyshire, S18 2FZ
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