Classpot

Ely College

East Cambridgeshire, CB6 2SHSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2025
Progress 8
+0.65
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
252 1st-choice / 258 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#334 of 3,141 nationally

About Ely College

If you're a parent weighing up Ely College, the first thing to know is that most families who've been through it would recommend it. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering responses from September 2024 to September 2025, 75% of the 293 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That's a solid majority, though it's worth noting that a quarter said they wouldn't. The school is also clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 376 applications for 258 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.46 applicants per place. Of those, 250 offers went to first-preference families out of 252 who put it top of their list, so getting in as a first choice is very likely but not guaranteed. On specific questions, parents were most positive about clubs and activities (92% agreed or strongly agreed their child could take part) and the range of subjects on offer (91% agreed or strongly agreed). The trickier areas were around support for children with SEND and how concerns are handled, where satisfaction was notably lower.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressDownham Road, Ely, East Cambridgeshire, CB6 2SH
HeadteacherSimon Warburton
Local AuthorityCambridgeshire
Number of Pupils1,649
Free School Meals (FSM)15.3%
School Capacity1,649 / 1,650 (100% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 293 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

26 Mar 2025
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (26 Mar 2025): Improved significantly

Source: Ofsted, 8 Jul 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
ICT SuiteScience LabsSports HallTheatreAstro TurfMusic RoomsPlaying FieldsSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

DanceRoundersCricketRowingFootballMartial ArtsNetballGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

DebateCodingFilm ClubModel United NationsOrchestraScience ClubChoirGardeningDrama

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ely College

Ely College has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.