St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy, Chesterfield
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Chesterfield, part of St Mary's Catholic High School Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024. Its 2026 GCSE results were the highest of the 11 schools in Chesterfield with published results, and 253rd of 3,298 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 105% of capacity.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Derbyshire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy in detail
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I offer you a very warm welcome to St Mary's Catholic High School, situated in Chesterfield and serving the parishes and families of North East Derbyshire for over 150 years. St Mary's is an outstanding school and I am tremendously proud of the examination successes our young people achieve."
On phones, the school says: "Any mobile phone that is brought onto the school site (which includes the bus bays) must be turned off and stored in the bottom of the school bag."
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Derbyshire
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 60.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Derbyshire and 47 across England.
66% 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 59.4.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.5: pupils made well above 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 50, against 62.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.8 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.
Getting a place at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 266 families put St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 475 named it as one of their preferences, for 203 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 64 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy are Outwood Academy Newbold (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.6); Brookfield Community School (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52); Parkside Community School (1.7 miles, Attainment 8 36.4); and Whittington Green School (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.4).
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Outwood Academy NewboldBrookfield Community SchoolParkside Community SchoolWhittington Green School
The trust
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 204 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.
Of the 159 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 69% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 19% into work. 36% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
12.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (68%), Mixed (9%) and Asian (9%).
In 2026, 150 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 35 (2.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chesterfield Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Orwins Close (adjacent), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 242 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy issued 16 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy are Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy (0.3 miles), Newbold CofE Primary School (0.5 miles), Highfield Hall Primary School (0.6 miles) and Brockwell Junior School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Dunston Primary and Nursery AcademyNewbold CofE Primary SchoolHighfield Hall Primary SchoolBrockwell Junior School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
One parent captured the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of parents and carers who expressed an opinion when they said: 'I feel lucky that I get to send my children here.' Pupils' conduct and attitudes towards one another, with adults and visitors are exceptional. They are welcoming and courteous while also industrious. Warm and trusting relationships are underpinned by a strong and inclusive ethos of care alongside high expectations at this popular school.
Pupils thrive at school both academically and socially, including in the sixth form. Classrooms are busy and purposeful learning spaces. Pupils receive consistently high-quality teaching that stimulates their interest and engagement in all subjects. They know that staff care about their success. The quality of pupils' classwork is of sustained high quality in all year groups. As a result, pupils attend and achieve remarkably well in all subjects by the end of key stages 4 and 5.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders have a precise understanding of the school's strengths and future development priorities. Governors are highly effective in holding leaders to account. At the heart of the school's success is an unwavering commitment to nurturing a strong culture of collaboration that puts pupils' interests first. The morale of staff is buoyant and united.
The high levels of academic and social achievement are rooted in exceptionally strong and cohesive opportunities for professional learning and development, complemented by robust arrangements designed to constantly check the quality of the school's provision. Staff value these approaches, particularly teachers who are embarking on their careers.
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
At a Glance
17.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has improved from 0.36 to 0.50 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 57.3 to 60.3 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 66% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 60.3 | 66.3% |
| Disadvantaged(40) | - | 50.0 | 45% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(165) | - | 62.8 | 71.5% |
| Boys(102) | - | 58.9 | 68.6% |
| Girls(103) | - | 61.7 | 64.1% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(24) | - | 62.3 | 54.2% |
| Non mobile(203) | - | 60.3 | 66.5% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 4 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 204 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
16
Suspensions
1.18%
Suspension rate
12 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,358 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Term dates
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Derbyshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy 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
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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
Your chances of a place at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Will you get a place at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Derbyshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Derbyshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
105%
Over capacity
1,351 pupils
1,281 places
70 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Chesterfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chesterfield
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.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
150
SEN Support
35
EHC Plans
13.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,400
Total Pupils
644
Boys
756
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
89
Teachers
15.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,690
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,658
Per pupil
£7249k
Total funding
£182k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
11.5%
Persistent absence
1,042
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
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
What are GCSE results like at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 60.3. 66% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is oversubscribed, Derbyshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy was full in 2025, at 105% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Classes at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy average 28.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy has around 1400 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
5.9% of sessions were missed at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 11.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is at Newbold Road, Upper Newbold, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 8AG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)