Ely College
Downham Road, Ely, CB6 2SHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Ely College is a secondary school in Ely for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 309 schools in Cambridgeshire. It ranks 2nd of 4 secondary schools in Ely. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 11 June 2019, report published 8 July 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 25 March 2025
Pupils enjoy attending this inclusive school and feel safe. Staff take the time to build positive relationships with pupils. Pupils feel known as individuals in this large school. The mixed-age tutor groups allow pupils to form friendships. They learn positive habits from older role models. Pupils know they can go to a trusted adult should they have any concerns. The broad and ambitious curriculum engages all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils benefit from the high expectations that staff have for their academic achievement. They display high levels of perseverance when work is challenging. This means that pupils achieve exceptionally well. The school's 'PLEDGES' award develops pupils' life skills and cultural awareness. Pupils take part in, organise and lead activities in school and the local community. Pupils also access a high-quality offer of enrichment opportunities. The diverse range of activities include sports, arts, drama, charity work and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Pupils are particularly proud of chamber choir performances at Ely Cathedral. There are educational visits to museums, theatres and field trips in the local area and abroad. These activities are well attended by pupils, including disadvantaged pupils.
What the school should improve
- Expectations of students' attendance in the sixth form do not always match those of the rest of the school. Attendance in the sixth form is not as high as in the rest of the school. This results in some sixth-form students not achieving as well as they could. The school should strengthen further the expectations of attendance across the sixth form, so that students achieve equally as well as other pupils in the school.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
284 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
63 students
Average A level grade C-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,635 pupils on roll, with places for 1,650
Schools near Ely College
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| King's Ely | 0.7 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 47.4 |
| Witchford Village College | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.5 |
| Vista Academy Littleport | 4 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 38.8 |
| Soham Village College | 6 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 51.2 |
| Cromwell Community College | 9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 40.8 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- MERIDIAN TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Warburton
- Phone
- 01353667763
- Address
- Downham Road, Ely, CB6 2SH
- Local authority
- Cambridgeshire
- URN
- 143404
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.