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Ely College

Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 2SH ·

Ofsted:Improved significantly· 2025
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At a glance

A state secondary academy for ages 11–18 in Ely. Ungraded Ofsted inspection (March 2025): Improved significantly. GCSE results are above the England average (Attainment 8: 49.7 vs 46.1, 2024/25). Oversubscribed: 304 families put it first for 261 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages
11–18
Pupils
1,635
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Local authority
Cambridgeshire
Academy trust
MERIDIAN TRUST
Headteacher
Mr Simon Warburton
Opened
Sept 2016

Inspection

Ofsted (framework in use until November 2025)

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Latest ungraded inspection (26 Mar 2025): Improved significantly

The school's last graded inspection took place before 2019.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 284 pupils

Attainment 8
49.7
England 46.1
Grade 5+ Eng & maths
53.5%
England 45.4%
Grade 4+ Eng & maths
73.6%
England 64.8%
Progress 8
+0.65
2023/24 · CI 0.47 to 0.83
This school
49.7
Cambridgeshire
48.1
England
46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

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Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made
261
1st preferences
304
All applications
417
1st prefs per place
1.16
More first choices than places

251 of 304 first-preference applicants were offered a place (83%). 1 offers went to families living in another council area.

Oversubscribed with first preferences

Earlier years include data recorded for this school's predecessor.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils
1,649
Capacity
1,650
99% full
Girls / boys
51/49
Mixed
  • Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)16%
  • English as an additional language3.9%
  • SEN support6.2%
  • Education, Health and Care plan3.9%
  • The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.
Ely College, Ely · SchoolPatch