Ely College
Ely, CB6 2SH · Cambridgeshire · secondary school
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13th of 34 secondary schools in Cambridgeshire we can score, 35 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 8.3/10 against 818 of them, against 8.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 57.6 · 78 | 30% | 2.34 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.65 · 89 | 25% | 2.23 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 53.7 · 82 | 10% | 0.82 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ely College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 53.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.65 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2025. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.3 out of 10 among them, against 7.8 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Young Enterprise, Film Club, Art Club, photography, and the Debating Society. Sports include football, netball, mixed hockey, golf, basketball, tennis, badminton, and volleyball. Trips have included New York, Naples, and Paris.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,635 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,650. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain progress above the national baseline? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How are places allocated for the next entry year?
What Ofsted said about Ely College
Overview
This ungraded inspection indicates that the school’s work “may have improved significantly across all areas” since the previous inspection, prompting a future graded inspection. Pupils enjoy attending this “inclusive school” where they “feel safe” and are known as individuals. The report highlights a “broad and ambitious curriculum” that engages all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, leading to exceptional achievement.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “well considered,” “ambitious and challenging,” with subject leaders outlining precisely what pupils must know.
- Teachers possess “excellent subject knowledge” and are “highly skilled at adapting the learning to meet pupils’ needs.”
- There is a “very well-considered curriculum” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with effective support strategies.
- The school fosters a “strong culture of reading” and provides effective support for pupils who struggle with fluency.
- Staff feel “valued” and appreciate how leaders look after their “well-being and workload.”
Areas to improve
- The school should “strengthen further the expectations of attendance across the sixth form,” as current levels are lower than in the rest of the school, preventing some students from achieving as well as they could.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 52.3 |
| 2024/25 | 49.7 |
| 2025/26 | 53.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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