University of Derby, Derby
University of Derby is a school for pupils in Derby.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
University of Derby in detail
University of Derby in its own words
In its own words: "A new nationwide initiative designed to transform communities by bringing together public, academic and civic organisations has been launched at St George's House, Windsor Castle. Led by the University of Derby, the National Civic Alchemy Network (NCAN) aims to create a space for people and organisations to work together through collective action, shared values and practical approaches to local challenges."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Derby Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is University Bus Park, 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood University of Derby stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
University of Derby creates a welcoming and supportive environment where students and apprentices feel safe and develop their confidence as they progress. Teachers combine strong subject expertise with practical industry examples, helping learners gain real understanding of their courses. The university works closely with employers, parents and community partners to design relevant courses that prepare students well for their next steps in employment or further study.
Key Strengths
- Apprentices achieve very well with many gaining merits and distinctions, and most continue in their roles or progress to higher levels of study
- Teachers have very good subject expertise and use relevant industry examples to help students understand topics
- Comprehensive support arrangements for students with special educational needs, including detailed support passports and effective collaboration with learning support staff
- Staff create a welcoming, supportive environment where students and apprentices feel very safe and develop increased confidence
- Most students and apprentices develop sound knowledge and skills with high pass rates
Areas for Improvement
- Too many young students dropped out of courses and too many adult distance learning students failed to complete their studies
- Curriculum in a few areas (such as level 3 sports courses) lacks breadth needed for full range of further study or work options
- Feedback on marked work is not always specific or challenging enough on some courses
- Apprenticeship progress reviews focus too much on assignment completion rather than linking study with on-the-job practice
- A small number of students behave disrespectfully and staff do not always challenge this behaviour effectively
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
University of Derby is a Good provider offering apprenticeships, classroom-based courses for young people, adults, and learners with high needs. Since the previous inspection, the university has substantially increased apprenticeship provision, which now accounts for about two-thirds of its further education activity.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from University of Derby
Derby students race to Radical Cup UK Championship success
1 Oct 2026
Crocodiles to crime scenes: students invited to discover future careers
30 Sep 2026
University of Derby’s Cavendish Building wins special award for contribution to the East Midlands
29 Sep 2026
From University of Derby's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with University of Derby
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 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 Derby is 24 (the median across 119 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
Capacity & Demand
Across Derby council
Places available
3,747
Applications
3,099
Got 1st preference
81.7%
Got preferred school
95.7%
All secondary applications across Derby council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Questions parents ask about University of Derby
What is the catchment area for University of Derby?
No fixed boundary. When University of Derby is oversubscribed, Derby allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to University of Derby?
Apply through Derby's coordinated admissions process, naming University of Derby on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near University of Derby?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 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 Derby is 24 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is University of Derby?
University of Derby is at Kedleston Road, Derby, Derbyshire, DE22 1GB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)