Thousands of families across Derbyshire were impatiently waiting for National Offer Day to find out if their children got a place at their chosen secondary.
Derbyshire County Council made offers of places to just under 9,000 Derbyshire children today (Monday, March 2) – and 94.8% of parents who applied by the closing date have been offered their first preference school.
Overall 98.7% who applied by the closing date were offered a place at 1 of their 3 preferred schools.
Cabinet Member for SEND and Education Councillor Simon Mabbott said: “I’d like to thank everyone who applied to us on time for their child’s secondary school place.
“I’d also like to thank our school admissions and transport team for processing the applications and supporting parents who needed help with the process.
“There were a few parents who didn’t make an application, however in this case, the parents have been offered the normal area school for their home address if the school has vacancies, or the nearest school with vacancies if the normal area school is oversubscribed.
“Parents can still make an application for preferred schools if they wish.”
The small number of parents who have not been offered a place at their preferred school have the right of appeal to an independent panel. Find information on how to appeal. Alternatively parents can get information from our school admissions and transport team by calling tel: 01629 537479.
As many pupils are excited to start the new chapter of their education in September, we have put together a list of best and worst performing Derbyshire secondary schools based on the revised 2024/25 key stage 4 performance data released by the Department of Education.
This year, the default metric schools are sorted by is their Attainment 8 score – the average score of all pupils across the year group.
The Attainment 8 score is calculated using pupils’ grades in the compulsory English and maths GCSEs double-weighted, as well as in three other English Baccalaureate subjects (which include sciences, languages, history and geography), and then in three additional GCSE subjects or other approved qualifications.
This is a change in comparison to previous years, when schools were rated based on the Progress 8 scores – which measure pupil progress from the end of primary school through to when they take their GCSEs.
The government website has explained that the Progress 8 scores could not be calculated as the key stage two data for the students who sat their GCSEs this year was not available due to the disruption caused by Covid-19.
Our league table ranks the 10 best and 10 worst performing Derbyshire state-funded secondary schools based on their 2024/25 Attainment 8 scores.
We have also looked at the schools’ latest Ofsted reports.
This ranking does not include private schools, special schools or schools located in Derby.
1. The best and worst performing state secondary schools in Derbyshire according to Attainment 8 score
As children across Derbyshire have received their secondary school offers today, we have made a list of the best and worst performing state secondaries in the county. Photo: Google
2. St Mary's Catholic High School, Upper Newbold
The top performing Derbyshire school for the latest school year is St Mary’s Catholic High School. In the 2024/25 school year the school, located at Newbold Road, had an impressive Attainment 8 score of 59.3. The school had 206 KS4 students on its roll. St Mary’s Catholic High School was visited by Ofsted in June 2024 and received 'outstanding' ratings across all areas inspected. Photo: Google
3. The Ecclesbourne School, Duffield
The Attainment score at the Ecclesbourne School at Wirksworth Road in Duffield was 58.1. This was the second best result in Derbyshire. The school had 238 KS4 students on its roll. Ecclesbourne School was visited by Ofsted in September 2023 and received an overall 'good' ratings following the inspection. Photo: Google
4. John Flamsteed Community School, Denby
John Flamsteed Community School took the third spot. The school, located at Derby Road in Denby, had an Attainment 8 score of 53.2. John Flamsteed Community School had 156 KS4 students on its roll. From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools. However, in a report published in February last year, Ofsted made the following key judgements: the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, as well as leadership and management were named as 'good'. Photo: Google