Esteem Valley Academy, Ilkeston

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are an Alternative Provision Academy, underpinned by our core values, Relationships, Engagement & Opportunity. We strive for excellence in all areas, have high aspirations for all our students and provide them with opportunities to achieve and succeed at all levels, altering the perception of PRUs and Support Centre’s."

Across Derbyshire, 94% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Derbyshire lodged 219 appeals against secondary school offers; 152 reached a hearing and 56 succeeded (36.8% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to Esteem Valley Academy are Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.8); Kirk Hallam Community Academy (1.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.6); Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.4); and Hall Park Academy (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.3).

Esteem Valley Academy is one of 14 schools run by Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Esteem Valley Academy (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (80%).

Of the 41 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 24% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 22% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

69.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (12%).

In 2026, 68 pupils (66%) received SEN support and 33 (32%) 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 railway station is Ilkeston Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Vernon Street (adjacent), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Esteem Valley Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 176 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50), as is usual near a town centre.

The primary schools closest to Esteem Valley Academy are Cotmanhay Junior School (0.3 miles), Cotmanhay Infant and Nursery School (0.3 miles), Charlotte Nursery and Infant School (0.5 miles) and Granby Junior School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.