Ashgate Croft School, Chesterfield
Ashgate Croft School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Chesterfield, part of Learners' Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2012)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ashgate Croft School in detail
Ashgate Croft School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "As a special school for pupils aged 4-19 with severe and profound and multiple disabilities; we are dedicated to creating a supportive, nurturing environment where each individual can flourish. Our vision at Ashgate Croft is Building Skills for Life, and we work to ensure that every pupil is equipped with the skills they need to lead independent and fulfilling lives."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include multi-sports and drama.
The school runs after-school care.
Coming up: an admissions event on Wednesday 27 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Derbyshire
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Ashgate Croft School are Include-West Bars (1.1 miles); Bluebank School (1.6 miles); and Holly House Special School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement).
The trust
Ashgate Croft School is one of 21 schools run by Learners' Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
61.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Ashgate Croft School has an education, health and care plan (160 of 160 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Ashgate Croft School has a SEN unit for autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 148 places, 162 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chesterfield Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Morley Avenue (adjacent), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ashgate Croft School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 244 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ashgate Croft School issued 7 suspensions, 4.3 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from September 2012, 14 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 Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its September 2012 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
61.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, SEMH, Physical +3
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 Ashgate Croft School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ashgate Croft School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ashgate Croft School is in Derbyshire; for families living there:
- Derbyshire's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy 2026 to 2027 - 465KB
- How to apply: Apply for home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Derbyshire is 6 (the median across 454 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
108%
Over capacity
160 pupils
148 places
12 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Chesterfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chesterfield
Across Derbyshire council
Places available
8,818
Applications
7,971
Got 1st preference
94.5%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Derbyshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
160
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Ashgate Croft School has a SEN unit for autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 148 places, 162 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
160
Total Pupils
117
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
6.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,814
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.7%
Overall absence
27.4%
Persistent absence
124
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Ashgate Croft School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Ashgate Croft School
What are SATs results like at Ashgate Croft School?
Of the pupils at Ashgate Croft School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Ashgate Croft School's Ofsted rating?
Ashgate Croft School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2012, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Ashgate Croft School?
No fixed boundary. When Ashgate Croft School is oversubscribed, Derbyshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Ashgate Croft School?
Ashgate Croft School has around 160 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Ashgate Croft School have specialist SEN provision?
Ashgate Croft School has a SEN unit for autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 148 places, 162 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Ashgate Croft School?
9.7% of sessions were missed at Ashgate Croft School in 2024/25. 27.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ashgate Croft School?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Ashgate Croft School 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 Ashgate Croft School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Derbyshire is 6 (the median across 454 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ashgate Croft School?
Ashgate Croft School is at Ashgate Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 4BN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)