The Derby High School, Lancs
Data last updated 30 Jun 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Derby High School excels at supporting disadvantaged students, with significantly improved outcomes and closed achievement gaps. The school creates a warm, respectful environment where students from diverse backgrounds thrive, with extensive trips and cultural experiences that prepare them very well for life in modern Britain. Outstanding leadership drives continuous improvement while maintaining high aspirations for every student.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding leadership with a clear focus on raising standards and closing achievement gaps
- Good progress for students in English and particularly strong progress for students learning English as an additional language
- Good student behaviour and a safe school environment with above-average attendance
- Excellent careers guidance and high progression rates to post-16 education
- Very strong spiritual, moral, social and cultural development woven throughout the curriculum
Areas for Improvement
- Progress in mathematics, particularly for more-able students, is not accelerating fast enough
- Inconsistencies in teaching quality and the level of challenge given to students across different lessons
- Students need more time to act on teacher feedback from marking to improve their work faster
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school meets statutory requirements for protecting students well, including those accessing off-site provision.
Extracurricular Activities
Extensive trips, visits, cultural experiences, morning tutor time reflecting on national and international issues
The Derby High School is a good school with outstanding leadership that is rigorously focused on raising standards. Students make good progress in many subjects, and the school provides a safe, harmonious learning environment.
At a Glance
34.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.8
Avg class size
40
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
106%
Over capacity
951 pupils
900 capacity
51 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Lancs
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Lancs
Admissions Demand - Bury
Places available
2,453
Applications
2,319
Got 1st preference
89.8%
Got preferred school
97.2%
Secondary admissions across Bury (2025/26)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.05183%
Overall absence
26.70744%
Persistent absence
981
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Derby High School
St Peter's Church of England Primary School
St Luke's CofE Primary School
Holy Trinity Primary School
St Stephen's Church of England Primary School
St Marie's Roman Catholic Primary School, Bury
Chantlers Primary School
Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Primary School, Bury
Greenhill Primary School
Radcliffe Hall Church of England Methodist Primary School
St Thomas Church of England Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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