Inspire Education Group

About Inspire Education Group

Inspire Education Group is a state-funded, mixed-gender secondary school in Peterborough that caters exclusively to students aged 16 to 99, making it a sixth-form and adult education centre rather than a traditional secondary school. With a pupil count of 78 in its most recent A-level cohort, the school operates as a relatively small institution, though the data does not specify its total capacity or whether it is oversubscribed. Free school meal eligibility figures are not provided, so it is not possible to compare its intake demographics against the local or national average. The school is led by headteacher Rachel Nicholls and has no religious character. Its location in Peterborough places it within a local authority that contains 16 secondary schools of the same type, only one of which is rated Outstanding — The King’s (The Cathedral) School, located 0.8 km away. This suggests that families seeking a highly-rated sixth-form option in the immediate area have limited Outstanding alternatives nearby.

Academically, Inspire Education Group’s most recent A-level results, from the 2023/24 academic year, show a mixed picture. The average points per entry was 30.91, equivalent to a grade C, and the best three A-levels averaged 28.98 points, also a C grade. Only 5.3% of entries achieved AAB or higher, a figure that reflects the school’s focus on a broader range of outcomes. The value-added score for A-levels was -0.18, with a progress banding of ‘Below average’, meaning students on average made less progress than similar students nationally. The confidence interval for this score ranges from -0.33 to -0.03, indicating that the negative progress is statistically significant. No Progress 8 or KS2 data is available since the school only serves post-16 students, and the local authority average Progress 8 of 0.03 for secondary schools is not directly comparable. Compared with the top-performing local peer, The King’s (The Cathedral) School, which has a ranking score of 0.73, Inspire Education Group’s outcomes are notably lower.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, gymnasium, sixth-form centre, library, theatre, sports hall, dining hall, astro turf, playing fields, and a chapel. Sports provision covers hockey, cricket, football, rounders, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, and badminton, while extracurricular clubs include Art Club, Coding, Book Club, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and Chess. There is no mention of specific SEND provisions or specialist support programmes in the data, so it is unclear how the school accommodates students with additional needs. Admissions information is not provided, so it is not possible to gauge how oversubscribed the school is or what entry requirements apply. This school is likely to suit mature students or adult learners returning to education, as well as 16- to 18-year-olds who prefer a smaller, more focused sixth-form environment without the broader secondary school context. Families prioritising high academic progress or a strong track record of top grades may want to explore the nearby Outstanding-rated alternative.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Inspire Education Group

Helpful Guides for Parents