Aldercar High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 648 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 33.9
Academy converter
Heanor Gate Spencer Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,493of 1,357 places
- Free school meals
- 33.8%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 216
- Ofsted
- Outstanding, 27 June 2023Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Heanor Gate Science College (URN 112993, until 1 November 2011).
What the data says
Of the 204 pupils who finished Year 11 at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy in 2023, 47% stayed on in Heanor Gate Spencer Academy’s own sixth form (Derbyshire average 34%), 23% went to a further education college and 11% started an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships are a real route from here: 11% of leavers started one, roughly three times the England figure of 3%.
Among the 114 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 46% went to university (Derbyshire 42%, England 37%), and 18% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally; 18% started an apprenticeship, well above the 7% England average.
GCSE results in 2025 were above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 49.6 against 46.1 across England and 45.0 in Derbyshire, with 51% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Derbyshire and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Heanor Gate Spencer Academy | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 204 | 7,796 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 93% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 75% | 82% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 47% | 34% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 4% | 5% | 13% |
| — further education college | 23% | 41% | 37% |
| — other education | — | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 11% | 5% | 3% |
| Employment | 7% | 4% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Heanor Gate Spencer Academy | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 114 | 3,774 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 93% | 85% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 46% | 42% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 18% | 21% | 19% |
| Further education | 0% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 18% | 11% | 7% |
| Employment | 29% | 27% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 5% | 11% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Heanor Gate Spencer Academy | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 49.6 | 45.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 51% | 43% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 72% | 65% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 45% | 30% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.55 | 3.92 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 34% | 28% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 42.7 | 34.0 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 53.1 | 49.2 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 5% | 4% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 215 | 100% | 88% | 24% | 22% | 81% |
| English Literature | 215 | 100% | 86% | 11% | 21% | 67% |
| English Language | 215 | 100% | 89% | 15% | 20% | 74% |
| Combined Science | 163 | 75% | 65% | 6% | 9% | 72% |
| Geography | 126 | 58% | 41% | 23% | 25% | 61% |
| History | 86 | 40% | 41% | 24% | 26% | 77% |
| Spanish | 55 | 25% | 19% | 36% | 27% | 98% |
| Chemistry | 51 | 24% | 23% | 45% | 47% | 100% |
| Biology | 51 | 24% | 23% | 45% | 45% | 98% |
| Physics | 51 | 24% | 23% | 37% | 46% | 100% |
| Design and Technology | 42 | 19% | 11% | 2% | 23% | 52% |
| Fine Art | 40 | 19% | 9% | 30% | 28% | 98% |
| French | 40 | 19% | 18% | 20% | 29% | 90% |
| Computer Science | 35 | 16% | 13% | 43% | 30% | 91% |
| Business Studies | 28 | 13% | 18% | 18% | 20% | 64% |
| Physical Education | 20 | 9% | 11% | 75% | 24% | 100% |
| Photography | 10 | 5% | 6% | 20% | 19% | 100% |
| Music | 6 | 3% | 5% | 67% | 33% | 100% |
| Polish | 2 | 1% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 39 | 42% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | 26 | 28% | — |
| Beauty Care / Services | 26 | 28% | — |
| Health Studies | 25 | 27% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 22 | 24% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 6 | 6% | — |
| Sports Studies | 1 | 1% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Heanor Gate Spencer Academy | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 244 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 93 | 2,363 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 34.03 | 32.99 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | C+ | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 11% | 16% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 32 | 34% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 26 | 28% | 31% |
| Sociology | 19 | 20% | 13% |
| Physics | 16 | 17% | 12% |
| Biology | 16 | 17% | 20% |
| Law | 15 | 16% | 4% |
| History | 14 | 15% | 13% |
| Product Design | 12 | 13% | 2% |
| English Literature | 10 | 11% | 11% |
| English Language | 9 | 10% | 4% |
| Geography | 9 | 10% | 10% |
| Photography | 9 | 10% | 3% |
| Chemistry | 9 | 10% | 17% |
| Computer Science | 7 | 8% | 5% |
| Physical Education | 6 | 6% | 3% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 22 | 24% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 14 | 15% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 8 | 9% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | 6 | 6% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 6% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| French | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| French | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Speech and Drama | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Music performance: Group | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Derbyshire
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Chapel-en-le-Frith High School
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Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.