Shirebrook Academy, Mansfield

In its own words: "At Shirebrook Academy we are committed to inspiring all members of our academy community to be the best that they can be."

From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of all members of our academy community, welcome to Shirebrook Academy. It is an honour and privilege to introduce myself as the Principal at our academy and to be able to work closely with students, staff, governors and parents/carers to support our school in being the best that it can be."

In 2026, pupils at Shirebrook Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Derbyshire and 47 across England.

26% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Derbyshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 39.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.34: 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 33.6, against 41.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Religious Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 158 families put Shirebrook Academy as their first choice and 202 named it as one of their preferences, for 165 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 Shirebrook Academy are The Bolsover School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.9); The Manor Academy (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.8); Meden School (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42); and Queen Elizabeth's Academy (3.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 32.3).

Shirebrook Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Shirebrook Academy is one of 12 schools run by Aston Community Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.1 in 2024/25.

40 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shirebrook Academy (as of September 2025): 28% would recommend the school, 38% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (53%); the weakest, that they would recommend the school (28%).

Of the 168 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 72% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

46.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 179 pupils (21.7%) received SEN support and 30 (3.6%) 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 Shirebrook Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School Bus Park (adjacent), 40 metres away.

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

In 2024/25, Shirebrook Academy issued 896 suspensions, 110.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Shirebrook Academy are The Park Junior School (0.3 miles), The Park Infant & Nursery School (0.3 miles), Brookfield Primary School (0.6 miles) and Langwith Bassett Primary Academy (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.