Classpot

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy

Amber Valley, DE75 7RASecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jun 2023
Progress 8
+0.14
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
259 1st-choice / 260 places
Ranking
#1,221
of 3,141 nationally

About Heanor Gate Spencer Academy

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy’s Progress 8 score of 0.14 places it comfortably above the Derbyshire local authority average of -0.11, meaning pupils here make about a quarter of a grade more progress per subject than the typical student in the area. That gap is meaningful: it puts the school 15th out of 46 secondaries in the county, and 3rd out of 8 schools in Amber Valley specifically. The school is also one of only two secondaries in the entire local authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, which it achieved in its most recent inspection in 2023. That inspection awarded top marks across the board — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision all came back as Outstanding. For context, the school had been rated Good in its previous inspection in 2017, so this represents a clear upward trajectory in official judgement.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressKirkley Drive, Heanor, Amber Valley, DE75 7RA
HeadteacherMatt Jones
Local AuthorityDerbyshire
Number of Pupils1,423
Free School Meals (FSM)31.6%
School Capacity1,423 / 1,357 (105% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

27 Jun 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 14 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Swimming PoolMusic RoomsSports HallDining HallTennis CourtsArt StudiosAstro TurfScience LabsLibrarySixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

RowingTennisNetballHockeyGymnasticsSwimmingCricketDanceBasketball

Clubs & Activities

DramaYoung EnterpriseChoirCodingOrchestraChessFilm ClubNewspaperDebateArt ClubModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 14:55

Source: heanorgatespencer.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Heanor Gate Spencer Academy

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.