Netherthorpe School, Chesterfield

In 2026, pupils at Netherthorpe School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Derbyshire and 47 across England.

41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Derbyshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 42.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.76: 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 35.4, against 47.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 134 families put Netherthorpe School as their first choice and 337 named it as one of their preferences, for 148 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 Netherthorpe School are Springwell Community College (1.1 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38); Heritage High School (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37.7); Whittington Green School (3.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.4); and Eckington School (3.2 miles, Attainment 8 44.1).

Netherthorpe School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Netherthorpe School is one of 10 schools run by Minerva Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45 in 2024/25.

144 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Netherthorpe School (as of September 2025): 59% would recommend the school, 68% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (70%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).

Of the 197 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 111 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 49% went on to university or other higher education, 15% to apprenticeships and 23% into work. 14% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

41.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Netherthorpe School.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whitehead Street (adjacent), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Netherthorpe School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 78 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.

In 2024/25, Netherthorpe School issued 768 suspensions, 73.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Netherthorpe School are Norbriggs Primary School (0.6 miles), Speedwell Infant School (0.6 miles), Woodthorpe CofE Primary School (0.7 miles) and Staveley Junior School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.