Eckington School, Sheffield

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Eckington School on 7 areas: 5 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 taken clear steps to improve pupils' attendance."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created an inclusive culture where pupils feel understood and supported."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and the areas that still need improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a thoughtful programme that helps pupils understand themselves, their relationships and the wider world."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a post-16 provision that gives students a calm and purposeful place to learn."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement is uneven across subjects and year groups."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have taken clear steps to strengthen the curriculum and teaching across the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the design of learning activities helps pupils to think deeply, explain their ideas and build on their learning across all subjects"; "Leaders should establish a consistent approach to assessment and feedback so that pupils understand how to improve their work and are given sufficient opportunities to do so"; "Leaders should secure clear expectations for teaching across the school so that all staff understand and apply the agreed standards that have been set out"; "Leaders should ensure that adaptive teaching is used reliably in all lessons so that well-judged adjustments enable every pupil, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to access the curriculum and achieve well"; "Leaders should work to close the gaps in older pupils' foundation skills and understanding off different religions and faiths so they achieve well in all areas".

In its own words: "As a parent and the Headteacher of Eckington School, I am acutely aware of the expectations and aspirations we all hold for our children. We want them to be safe, respectful, confident, resilient, and successful in everything they do."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Eckington School's vibrant Sixth Form welcomes post-16 students from both within its existing Year 11 student group and from a range of other schools. We offer a wide variety of courses, accessed from our dedicated sixth form facility. Sixth Form students receive excellent support throughout their time at Eckington with careers and personal development advice, delivered by our staff team."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis, basketball, badminton, ukulele, guitar, chess, STEM and photography.

On phones, the school says: "Mobile phones and electronic devices: should be switched off and out of sight during the school day."

In 2026, pupils at Eckington School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Derbyshire and 47 across England.

45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Derbyshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 40.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.36: pupils made 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 34.6, against 48 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 137 families put Eckington School as their first choice and 236 named it as one of their preferences, for 143 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 Eckington School are The Birley Academy (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 41.5); Westfield School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.2); Whittington Green School (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.4); and Netherthorpe School (3.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 42.8).

Eckington School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Eckington School is one of 8 schools run by Chorus Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.2 in 2024/25.

141 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Eckington School (as of April 2026): 75% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 55% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (79%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (55%).

Of the 228 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 51% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 80 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 64% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 19% into work.

1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 119 pupils (10.6%) received SEN support and 37 (3.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Halfway Platform, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School bus park (adjacent), 140 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Eckington School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Eckington School issued 263 suspensions, 23 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Eckington School are Birk Hill Infant & Nursery School (0.3 miles), Eckington Junior School (0.7 miles), Marsh Lane Primary School (0.7 miles) and Camms CofE (Aided) Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.