Hope Valley College, Hope Valley

In its own words: "Our school is often described as a special place not only because of its location in the heart of the beautiful Peak District and the Hope Valley, but also because of its wonderful students, staff, parents and governors."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Hope Valley Pathways is a specialist post-16 provision for young people with SEND, preparing them for life and work. We have a person-centred approach to the education of our youngsters and our aim is to encourage learning, opportunity and independence."

On phones, the school says: "Phones : Switched off and in your bag from 8.55am - 3.30pm."

In 2026, pupils at Hope Valley College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Derbyshire and 47 across England.

53% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Derbyshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 44.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.23: 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 44, against 52.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Geography, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 97 families put Hope Valley College as their first choice and 242 named it as one of their preferences, for 101 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Hope Valley College 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.

Of the 99 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 88 pupils (17%) received SEN support and 62 (12%) 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 autism.

Hope Valley College has a resourced provision for autism and moderate learning difficulties: 24 places, 18 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Hope (Derbyshire) Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is College (adjacent), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 11 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).

In 2024/25, Hope Valley College issued 73 suspensions, 13.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Hope Valley College are Hope Primary School (0.4 miles), Castleton CofE Primary School (1 mile), Bradwell Junior School (1.4 miles) and Bradwell CofE (Controlled) Infant School & Nursery (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.