Da Vinci Academy, Derby

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Da Vinci Academy on 6 areas: 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have successfully improved pupils' attendance."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Da Vinci Academy is an inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leadership and local governance have changed since the last inspection."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal, social and health education and relationships curriculums meet pupils' needs well."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Achievement remains too low."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teachers do not consistently adapt lessons to meet pupils' needs."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded across the school so that all groups of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make strong progress across the curriculum. • Leaders should ensure that teaching focuses on identifying and resolving quickly any misconceptions, explaining important knowledge and carefully checking pupils' understanding consistently well so that pupils achieve well in every subject. • Leaders should make certain that pupils secure the necessary accuracy and fluency in reading, handwriting and spelling, in readiness for their next learning steps".

In its own words: "We aim high and believe in our potential. We set challenging goals, have high aspirations for the future and make the most of every opportunity to learn, grow and succeed."

Coming up: an admissions event on Saturday 31 October 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Da Vinci Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 35, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 42.7 in Derby and 47 across England.

25% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 37% in Derby and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 34.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.64: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 28, against 41.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 74 families put Da Vinci Academy as their first choice and 152 named it as one of their preferences, for 132 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Da Vinci Academy are Lees Brook Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43); Landau Forte College (1.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 51.6); Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.4); and UTC Derby Pride Park (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.5).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Da Vinci Academy.

Da Vinci Academy is one of 27 schools run by L.e.a.d. Academy Trust, an academy trust.

27 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Da Vinci Academy (as of April 2026): 59% would recommend the school, 59% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (63%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (48%).

Of the 140 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 70% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 59% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

60.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Derby Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bexhill Walk (adjacent), 220 metres away.

In 2024/25, Da Vinci Academy issued 241 suspensions, 34.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Da Vinci Academy are Breadsall Hill Top Primary School (under 0.1 miles), Roe Farm Primary School (0.3 miles), Beaufort Primary School (0.6 miles) and Parkview Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.