Anthony Gell School Review 2026: Strong Community Roots in the Derbyshire Dales

When Anthony Gell, a wealthy Elizabethan attorney, established his Free Grammar School in 1576, he could not have envisaged how his charitable vision would evolve over nearly 450 years. In August 2023, the school underwent its most significant transformation in modern times by converting to academy status while maintaining its historical ties to the Anthony Gell School Foundation, a charitable trust that has outlasted empires and educational reform. Located in the heart of Wirksworth, a small town in the Derbyshire Dales, the school now serves 781 students aged 11 to 18 across a mixed-gender, non-selective comprehensive environment. With 781 students occupying a school designed for 825, the current intake reflects the school's growing regional reputation. Results paint a picture of quiet consistency: GCSE Attainment 8 of 49.9 places the school in line with England averages (49 nationally), while A-level performance sits at 51% achieving grades A* to B. Positioned at 1533rd nationally for GCSE (FindMySchool ranking) and 971st for A-levels, the school inhabits the solid middle ground, neither spectacular nor struggling.

A school spanning 450 years of history carries weight. The original Gell Block, built in 1908 to designs by county architect George H. Widdows and constructed from Wirksworth bricks and Black Rock gritstone, remains central to the campus, grounding the school in its physical past. The transition to academy status in 2023 marks a deliberate choice to remain local while gaining greater autonomy; the Embark Federation provides administrative support without overriding Headteacher Malcolm Kelly's vision, who has led the school since its conversion.

The school operates through a five-house system, each named after local or national figures of significance. Arkwright House honours Sir Richard Arkwright, the Industrial Revolution inventor whose mills shaped Cromford nearby. Gell House carries the founder's name. Fearne commemorates Agnes Fearne, Anthony Gell's relative and early benefactor. Wright House celebrates Joseph Wright of Derby, the landscape painter. Nightingale House recognises Florence Nightingale, the nursing pioneer who had family connections to the area. This deliberate anchoring to Derbyshire heritage, combined with national figures, creates a tangible sense of place. Each house is led by a dedicated Pastoral Manager and team of tutors, creating vertical mixing where younger and older students learn from each other.

The school's values — Care, Aspire, Achieve — sit alongside the broader Embark Federation commitment to Family, Integrity, Teamwork, and Success. These are not mere wall posters; they inform the behaviour policy and guide daily interactions. Students feel safe here, in part because relationships between staff and pupils run deep. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1, individual pupils are known by name and circumstance, not register number.

GCSE Performance

In 2025 (the most recent cohort), 46% of pupils achieved Attainment 8 scores, matching the national average of 46% exactly. This narrow alignment masks detail worth noting: 42% secured grade 5 or above in both English and Mathematics, compared to the national figure of 45%. Where the school distinguishes itself is in the breadth of EBacc entries. Only 14% of students pursued the English Baccalaureate pathway, compared to the national 41% entry rate, suggesting the school caters more flexibly to different aspirations rather than channelling all toward traditional academic routes. Those who did pursue EBacc averaged 3.78 points per subject, slightly below the England average of 4.08, positioning the school neither above nor below the comparative standard (FindMySchool ranking places GCSE outcomes at 1533rd nationally, placing it in the middle 35% of schools). The school's Progress 8 score from earlier measurement cycles (0.27) indicates pupils make slightly above-average progress from their starting points, a consistent thread across recent results.

A-Level Performance

Sixth form results tell a story of aspiration with realistic outcomes. In 2024, the most recent published cohort, 51% of A-level grades achieved A* to B, placing the school above the historical average. Average Points Score of 35% compares tightly with the national figure of 36%, suggesting consistency. Notably, 67% of sixth form leavers progressed to higher education or training, outpacing the national average of 65%, which is evidence that the sixth form's career guidance is effective. The school ranks 971st nationally for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), positioning it in the middle 35% of schools in England, reflecting solid middle-tier standing. Subject diversity is strong, with 26 A-level subjects offered, including Classical Greek, Russian, and History of Art, allowing students to pursue genuine interests rather than formulaic paths.

The curriculum delivers the statutory content with intentional depth. Science, English, and Mathematics dominate early years, followed by measured introduction of humanities and modern languages. The school has invested in STEM capacity, with dedicated facilities and a lunchtime STEM Club where pupils test hypotheses and challenge themselves. Students participate in the UK Maths Challenges annually, competing against peers nationally. Sixth formers participate in extension seminars and academic scholarship programmes, creating layered opportunity rather than one-size-fits-all instruction.

Pastoral care sits at the heart of teaching practice. Beyond lessons, the school operates a robust support system. In-class support serves pupils with a range of special needs, while small group sessions support basic skills in literacy and numeracy. A dedicated Support Centre, run by trained teaching assistants, provides targeted help for students experiencing behavioural or emotional challenges. A multi-agency meeting every fortnight ensures swift referral to external support where needed. Teaching assistants and teachers communicate regularly with families through the Arbor app, creating transparent communication channels about attendance, homework, and pastoral concerns.

In 2024, university progression reflects solid outcomes. While specific university naming is limited in public-facing materials, the school reports sustained progression to leading institutions. One student secured a Cambridge place (out of 3 applications), indicating while Oxbridge access exists, it remains selective even for a performing sixth form. Medical school represents a significant pathway, with pupils regularly securing places at competitive universities across England. Degree apprenticeships and gap-year travel feature prominently among alternative routes, reflecting the school's openness to diverse post-18 pathways beyond traditional university entry.

Sports: A Defining Strength

Anthony Gell School earned the prestigious Sportsmark Gold Award on three separate occasions, recognition granted to only a handful of schools nationally. This reputation rests on genuine infrastructure. The school houses a Leisure Centre (completed in 2001, now managed by Freedom Leisure from August 2018), fed by a £1.3 million investment. Alongside three all-weather astro-turf pitches, the complex includes grass pitches, indoor sports halls, an air-conditioned fitness suite, and multiple indoor climbing walls. This isn't theoretical provision; the facilities anchor genuine participation. Students access football, cricket, athletics, basketball, cross-country running, hockey, netball, tennis, dance, gymnastics, trampolining, orienteering, sailing, and cycling. Wirksworth Colts Football Club and Matlock Baileans Hockey Club use the school's pitches as home venues, embedding the school within the wider sporting community. While competitive teams thrive, the philosophy prioritises participation for all.

Music: Ensemble Approach

Four named ensembles form the backbone: Vocalise (a vocal group), Rock School (teaching performance across contemporary genres), Urban Choir (accessible entry point for singers), and School Orchestra (drawing players of multiple instruments). These are not mere listings; they reflect real programming across the school calendar. Instrumental lessons are available through the school, with Wirksworth Music Centre (operating for 20 years) holding Saturday morning sessions at the school, extending musical learning beyond formal curriculum. Concerts run throughout the year, with exam performance evenings inviting audiences to hear both students and visiting musicians. An annual Musical Production combines drama, music, and stagecraft, occupying students from autumn rehearsals through spring performance.

Drama: Collaborative Creation

The school commits to two productions annually, each open to students across all year groups. Exam group performances (GCSE and A-level) feature before audiences, normalising public performance as part of learning. Lunchtime drama clubs run continuously, and the school partners with external providers to broaden experience. Recent productions span classical and contemporary text, building repertory knowledge among participants.

Arts and Design

Lunchtime art clubs operate throughout the year, often linked to specific projects: entries in the Matlock Bath Pro Loco Art competition, community paintings for the local Children's Centre, and Well Dressing (a traditional Derbyshire craft). Strong links with Wirksworth Festival and Derby University mean visiting artists work directly with students, and field trips to galleries inform visual literacy. Students develop work in graphics, product design, catering, and resistant materials within technology spaces, with many spending significant time outside timetabled lessons on projects.

STEM Beyond Maths

The STEM Club operates as a popular lunchtime activity where students set themselves challenges and test hypotheses to their limits. Maths revision sessions see strong attendance, with additional support offered during lunch and school holidays. UK Maths Challenge participation puts students in competition against national peers, elevating mathematical ambition beyond examinations.

English and Literacy

Sixth Form Reading Buddies pair older students with younger pupils needing support, creating peer mentoring whilst building comprehension. The school library serves as a genuine hub, busy at break and lunch with readers, homework completion, and chess players. Accelerated Reader programming guides students toward books suited to their reading age and monitors progress. Poetry competitions, journalism challenges, and public speaking opportunities supplement classroom English, positioning literacy as a life skill rather than a subject bound to examinations.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Reintroduced in September 2024 after a brief absence, the Duke of Edinburgh scheme now engages 30 Year 9 students, with plans to expand. The award structure — skill, volunteering, physical activity, and expedition — reflects the school's belief that education extends beyond classrooms. The Peak District backdrop provides genuine wilderness for expeditions, with students spending nights camping, navigating, and cooking in real mountain conditions.

International Engagement

The school has earned the British Council International School Award on six occasions, a testament to deliberate cultural work. Exchange links with Toyota City (Japan), Wetter (Germany), and Die (France, Wirksworth's twin town) create reciprocal learning opportunities. Annual trips abroad vary by interest, with support systems ensuring cost does not exclude participation. This sustained international engagement cultivates cultural awareness and global perspective among young people still forming worldviews.

Charitable Engagement

Students learn the importance of service through active fundraising for national and local charities, which vary by house and student interest. Each of the five houses adopts a charity of choice annually, creating competition through contribution rather than consumption. Individual fundraising receives school support, normalising civic responsibility.

The school receives approximately twice as many applications as available places. In the most recent admissions cycle measured, 212 families applied for 107 places available at Year 7 entry, reflecting a subscription proportion of 1.98. This competitive environment means living within the catchment area provides meaningful advantage. However, about one-third of current Year 7 intake originates from outside the catchment boundary, indicating families travel intentionally for access. The school operates a five-house system at Year 7 entry, with the majority of places allocated by distance and family circumstances (looked-after children and those with EHCPs naming the school are considered first). No formal catchment boundary exists; instead, distance from the school gates determines priority once protected groups are accommodated.

For sixth form entry, approximately 240 students apply for roughly 60 places, creating fresh competition at age 16. Entry requirements demand grade 5 or above in GCSE English and Mathematics for most A-level routes, with some subjects requiring subject-specific grades of 7 or above. This selectivity maintains cohort quality without preventing students who matured during GCSE years from advancing.

Beyond the house system, the school operates a comprehensive pastoral framework. The Support Centre, managed by teaching assistants, provides focused support for students with behavioural or emotional needs, serving as a stepping stone between mainstream lessons and external specialist provision. A multi-agency group convenes fortnightly to review student welfare, bringing together school staff, social workers, educational psychologists, and family support specialists. This coordinated approach ensures early intervention and sustained support for vulnerable young people.

Safeguarding operates robustly. The latest inspection feedback (from the 2018 monitoring visit, the most recent available data) noted strong cultural commitment, with recent comments reflecting that safeguarding remains a strength. Staff are trained in mental health awareness, with counselling support available for students experiencing emotional difficulty. The school recognises that adolescence presents developmental challenges; pastoral structures provide responsive support rather than assuming all young people manage autonomously.

The school day runs from approximately 8:50am to 3:20pm, with a structured timetable across five periods plus a morning briefing. No on-site breakfast club or after-school provision is mentioned in published materials; families seeking extended care should contact the school directly. Lunch provision operates in-house, with options to bring packed lunches. Uniform is required throughout the main school, with sixth form enjoying greater flexibility in dress code expectations.

Transport varies considerably. The school is accessible by car from across the Derbyshire Dales, with limited parking on the Wood Street site itself. Bus provision connects Wirksworth to Matlock and surrounding villages, though journey times may be 20-45 minutes depending on origin. Students reliant on public transport should plan accordingly. The school's position in Wirksworth town centre means some students walk or cycle, though the hilly Derbyshire terrain deters longer cycle journeys.

Solid Performance, Not Elite: Academic results place the school firmly in the middle tier nationally (FindMySchool ranking 1533rd GCSE). Those seeking clear evidence of excellence in examination outcomes should consider that performance here is respectable but not exceptional. This suits many families perfectly; for those pursuing Russell Group university ambitions, competition may be less intense than at grammar or independent alternatives.

Oversubscription: With nearly two applications for every place at Year 7, entry requires either living within easy reach or demonstrating exceptional circumstances. Families relocating to the area should verify distance from the school gates before assuming access. The admissions process is straightforward, but securing a place is genuinely competitive.

Sixth Form Selectivity: Access to A-level study requires GCSE grade 5 in English and Mathematics as a floor, with many subjects demanding grade 7. Students who underperform at GCSE may find options limited, though the school does not categorically refuse students; clear conversations with senior staff about subject viability are essential.

Remote Location: Wirksworth is a small market town, not an urban hub. The nearest major city is Derby, 20 miles away. This suits families valuing community feel and outdoor access; those seeking nightlife or extensive retail faces a drive. Transport for non-driving students relies on buses or parent provision.

Anthony Gell School delivers solid, dependable secondary education rooted in genuine care for individual students. Examination results hover comfortably at England average, neither remarkable nor concerning. Where the school excels is in the orchestration of community: five well-managed houses, named ensembles, active sporting life, and sustained international engagement create a school where teenagers belong before they achieve. The five-century-old foundation, now renewed through academy conversion, suggests institutional stability without stagnation.

Best suited to families within or near Wirksworth seeking a genuinely comprehensive environment where their child will be known as a person, not a score. Ideal for students who thrive on team participation, community contribution, and breadth of opportunity rather than narrow academic hothouse conditions. The main challenge is securing entry in the first place, which requires either residing within travelling distance or demonstrating compelling circumstances. For those who do gain places, the experience reflects thoughtful leadership and steady teaching across a broad spectrum of ability.