Parents of Year Six pupils across the county have a hard choice to make as the deadline for Derbyshire secondary school admissions is quickly approaching.
Applications for secondary placement for September 2027 close at midnight on Saturday, October 31.
With many brilliant schools across Derbyshire, it can be difficult to find the most suitable secondary for your child.
To make the choice easier, we have put together a ranking of the most oversubscribed secondary schools in Derbyshire in 2026.
The school table is based on the latest Derbyshire secondary school application figures for the 2026/2027 academic year released by the Department of Education.
The ranking includes the number of first choice applications for each school place available.
This ranking does not include schools based in Derby.
1. Most over subscribed Derbyshire secondary schools
Here are the nine secondary schools in Derbyshire which were the hardest to get into, based on the latest Department of Education data. | Google
2. Anthony Gell School, Matlock (9)
Anthony Gell School in Matlock is the ninth most oversubscribed school in Derbyshire based on the number of first choice applications revealed by the Department of Education. The school saw 136 first choice applications for 131 places available in the 2026/2027 school year. This means that the school has received 1.03 first choice applications for each place available.
3. Brookfield Community School, Chesterfield (8)
Brookfield Community School at Chatsworth Road in Chesterfield is the eighth most oversubscribed school in Derbyshire based on the number of first place applications revealed by the Department of Education. The school saw 183 first place applications for 173 places available in the 2026/2027 school year. This means that the school has received 1.06 first choice applications for each place available..
4. Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, Ilkeston (7)
Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy at King George Avenue in Ilkeston is the seventh most oversubscribed school in Derbyshire based on the number of first choice applications revealed by the Department of Education. The school saw 227 first choice applications for 208 places available in the 2026/2027 school year. This means that the school has received This means she school has received 1.09 first choice applications for each place available.