Holbrook School for Autism, Belper
Holbrook School for Autism is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Belper, part of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2023.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Holbrook School for Autism in detail
Holbrook School for Autism in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and an open evening on Wednesday 24 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Derbyshire
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Holbrook School for Autism are St Andrew's Academy (3.7 miles, Good); Include - St Matthews (3.9 miles, selective); St Giles' Spencer Academy (4 miles, Outstanding); and Jasmine House School (4.5 miles, Good).
St Andrew's AcademyInclude - St MatthewsSt Giles' Spencer AcademyJasmine House School
The trust
Holbrook School for Autism is one of 14 schools run by Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
54.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (5%).
Almost every pupil at Holbrook School for Autism has an education, health and care plan (170 of 170 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Holbrook School for Autism provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Duffield Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Autism Centre (adjacent), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Holbrook School for Autism stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 17 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, burglary and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Holbrook School for Autism issued 3 suspensions, 1.9 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 agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
At a Glance
54.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 25% (2024 to 2025), while maths has declined from 23% to 6% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Holbrook School for Autism
Before and after school care
Holbrook School for Autism is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Derbyshire
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Holbrook School for Autism from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Holbrook School for Autism 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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
106%
Over capacity
170 pupils
160 places
10 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Belper
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Belper
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)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
170
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Holbrook School for Autism provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
170
Total Pupils
148
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,177
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.6%
Overall absence
22.7%
Persistent absence
128
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
Holbrook School for Autism
Questions parents ask about Holbrook School for Autism
What are GCSE results like at Holbrook School for Autism?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Holbrook School for Autism achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.4. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Holbrook School for Autism's Ofsted rating?
Holbrook School for Autism was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023.
What is the catchment area for Holbrook School for Autism?
No fixed boundary. When Holbrook School for Autism is oversubscribed, Derbyshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Holbrook School for Autism?
Holbrook School for Autism has around 170 pupils on roll. 54% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Holbrook School for Autism have specialist SEN provision?
Holbrook School for Autism provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Holbrook School for Autism?
10.6% of sessions were missed at Holbrook School for Autism in 2024/25. 22.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Holbrook School for Autism?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Holbrook School for Autism 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.
Does Holbrook School for Autism have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Holbrook School for Autism is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Holbrook School for Autism?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Holbrook School for Autism?
Holbrook School for Autism is at Portway, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 0TE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)