St Giles' Spencer Academy, Derby
St Giles' Spencer Academy is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Derby, part of The Spencer Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2016)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Giles' Spencer Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to St Giles' Spencer Academy are St Andrew's Academy (0.5 miles, Good); Include - St Matthews (0.8 miles, selective); Aurora Ryefields School (1.2 miles); and Jasmine Hall School (1.6 miles, Good).
St Andrew's AcademyInclude - St MatthewsAurora Ryefields SchoolJasmine Hall School
The trust
St Giles' Spencer Academy is one of 27 schools run by The Spencer Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
61.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 34.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (52%), Asian (21%) and Mixed (9%).
Almost every pupil at St Giles' Spencer Academy has an education, health and care plan (149 of 149 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
St Giles' Spencer Academy has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 140 places, 146 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Derby Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Meteor Centre (opposite), 210 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Giles' Spencer Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
St Giles' Spencer Academy provides an exceptional education for its pupils and is ambi-tious for all who attend this caring school. Relationships between pupils and adults are kind and respectful.
At the heart of the school's work is the strong focus on communication and developing independence. Through effective communication, staff develop warm relationships with pupils based on high levels of trust. Pupils know staff will help them. As a result, pupils are happy and feel safe.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Pupils receive an ambitious curriculum. The school has designed learning pathways and areas of learning that meet the complex needs of its pupils. This covers a broad range of subjects and well-planned enrichment opportunities, as well as therapeutic interventions. Pupils follow a highly personalised curriculum that is tailored closely to meet their individual needs. This helps all pupils, including those with profound and complex multiple needs, to learn exceptionally well.
Staff provide interesting tasks to motivate and engage pupils. These tasks extend pupils' learning. Adults provide many opportunities for pupils to repeat and therefore reinforce knowledge, so they know and remember more over time.
From Ofsted's May 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its December 2016 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
61.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, MLD, SLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with St Giles' Spencer Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Giles' Spencer Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Giles' Spencer Academy is in Derby; for families living there:
Apply to Derby for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 26
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 18 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Derby is 24 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
127%
Over capacity
149 pupils
117 places
32 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Derby
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Derby
Across Derby council
Places available
3,747
Applications
3,099
Got 1st preference
81.7%
Got preferred school
95.7%
All secondary applications across Derby council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
149
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
St Giles' Spencer Academy has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 140 places, 146 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
149
Total Pupils
107
Boys
42
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
6.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,869
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.5%
Overall absence
22.8%
Persistent absence
145
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about St Giles' Spencer Academy
What are SATs results like at St Giles' Spencer Academy?
Of the pupils at St Giles' Spencer Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is St Giles' Spencer Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Giles' Spencer Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2016, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Giles' Spencer Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Giles' Spencer Academy is oversubscribed, Derby allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to St Giles' Spencer Academy?
St Giles' Spencer Academy has around 149 pupils on roll. 62% are eligible for free school meals.
Does St Giles' Spencer Academy have specialist SEN provision?
St Giles' Spencer Academy has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 140 places, 146 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at St Giles' Spencer Academy?
7.5% of sessions were missed at St Giles' Spencer Academy in 2024/25. 22.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Giles' Spencer Academy?
Apply through Derby's coordinated admissions process, naming St Giles' Spencer Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near St Giles' Spencer Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 18 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Derby is 24 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Giles' Spencer Academy?
St Giles' Spencer Academy is at Hampshire Road, Chaddesden, Derby, Derbyshire, DE21 6BT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)