Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School is performing well overall, having achieved a good rating in its latest inspection. The school boasts an exceptional environment for learning, characterized by outstanding behavior and attitudes among students, who feel safe and happy. There is a strong focus on academic achievement, with well-structured and ambitious curricula that cater to the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, the fully effective support for pupils with SEND is an ongoing area for improvement, as some students have not yet reached their full potential because of inconsistent support.

Strengths

• Exceptional behavior and attitudes among students
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils
• Broad and ambitious curriculum tailored for all pupils
• Effective strategies for improving pupils’ reading skills
• Outstanding sixth-form provision with high expectations
• Impressive personal development curriculum preparing pupils for modern life

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent support for pupils with SEND affecting their achievement

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School attended 91.5% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 22.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 4.2% of pupils at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 6 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School had 18.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 9.6% of pupils at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School received £7,653 and spent £7,541 for each of its 1,810 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £294,000 (£163 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Dronfield · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School last inspected by Ofsted?

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School have?

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School has 1,810 pupils on roll.

What age range does Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School cover?

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 49.4, and 52% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School?

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School is at Green Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2FZ.