The Derby High School has closed (Tuesday 30 June 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now The Derby High School.
The Derby High School, Lancs
The Derby High School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Lancs. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 7th-highest of the 13 schools in Bury with published results, and 1,988th of 3,298 across England. It was full in 2025, at 104% of capacity.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Bury (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
The Derby High School in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at The Derby High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.2 in Bury and 47 across England.
38% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Bury and 47% in England.
That is down from 45.9 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.35: pupils made 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 39.5, against 46.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.1 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.
Getting a place at The Derby High School
For September 2026 entry, 210 families put The Derby High School as their first choice and 445 named it as one of their preferences, for 181 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 32 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at The Derby High School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to The Derby High School are The Derby High School (under 0.1 miles); Bury Church of England High School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 51.5); St Gabriel's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.2); and Star Radcliffe Academy (1.4 miles).
The Derby High School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
The Derby High SchoolBury Church of England High SchoolSt Gabriel's RC High School, a Voluntary AcademyStar Radcliffe Academy
Where pupils go next
Of the 179 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.
Who goes there
38.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 37.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (54%) and White British (29%).
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Bury (Manchester Metrolink), about 1120 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Derby High School (outside), 350 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Derby High School issued 313 suspensions, 32.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.
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); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Derby High School excels at making pupils feel genuinely supported and safe while maintaining high expectations of behaviour and achievement. Teachers use expert subject knowledge to deliver lessons clearly, helping pupils build understanding over time. The school provides ample opportunities for creative development and enrichment activities that help pupils become responsible, tolerant citizens.
Key Strengths
- Pupils feel safe and well-supported by staff, with clear behaviour expectations met consistently
- Creative enrichment opportunities including school productions and the converted 'Sustain Bus' learning space
- Strong support for pupils with SEND, ensuring they access the full curriculum alongside their peers
- High-quality careers provision with excellent progression to education, employment or training
- Leaders prioritise reading and use carefully chosen texts to develop pupils' moral and ethical understanding
Areas for Improvement
- Some teachers in key stage 3 do not yet have accurate overview of pupil learning due to inconsistent implementation of new assessment systems
- Reading support programme for pupils with weak phonics knowledge is not yet fully implemented, delaying access to the wider curriculum for some pupils
- Engagement with reading among key stage 4 pupils is lower than in key stage 3
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff trained to identify risks and work with external agencies to provide timely help for pupils and families.
Extracurricular Activities
School show productions (e.g. Shrek), Sustain Bus learning activities, weekly form tutor reading sessions, careers engagement with employers and further education providers
The Derby High School is a good school where pupils are inspired to make a difference and feel happy and safe. Leaders have high expectations for all pupils and have established a strong culture of achievement.
At a Glance
38.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around 0.35 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 43.4 to 44.0 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 35% to 38% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 44.0 | 37.6% |
| Disadvantaged(71) | - | 39.5 | 25.4% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(118) | - | 46.6 | 44.9% |
| Boys(87) | - | 40.4 | 36.8% |
| Girls(102) | - | 47.0 | 38.2% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(61) | - | 42.2 | 36.1% |
| Non mobile(178) | - | 45.0 | 39.3% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 5 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 179 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
2
Permanent exclusions
0.21%
Exclusion rate
313
Suspensions
32.91%
Suspension rate
90 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 951 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with The Derby High School
Term dates
The Derby High School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Bury. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Derby High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Derby High School is in Bury; for families living there:
Apply to Bury for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at The Derby High School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
937 pupils
900 places
37 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Lancs
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lancs
Across Bury council
Places available
2,444
Applications
2,233
Got 1st preference
90.7%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Bury council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
159
SEN Support
38
EHC Plans
21.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
928
Total Pupils
457
Boys
471
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
66
Teachers
14.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,794
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,590
Per pupil
£7791k
Total funding
£348k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.1%
Overall absence
26.7%
Persistent absence
981
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about The Derby High School
What are GCSE results like at The Derby High School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Derby High School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44. 38% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Derby High School's Ofsted rating?
The Derby High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Derby High School?
No fixed boundary. When The Derby High School is oversubscribed, Bury allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at The Derby High School?
The Derby High School was full in 2025, at 104% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at The Derby High School?
Classes at The Derby High School average 23.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Derby High School?
The Derby High School has around 928 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Derby High School?
9.1% of sessions were missed at The Derby High School in 2024/25. 26.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Derby High School?
Apply through Bury's coordinated admissions process, naming The Derby High School 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.
What are The Derby High School's term dates?
The Derby High School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Bury. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
Where is The Derby High School?
The Derby High School is at Radcliffe Road, Redvales, Lancs, Lancashire, BL9 9NH.
Source: Bury term dates