1
St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Chesterfield • Derbyshire • S41 8AG
1
14 Jul 2024
Top 10 Secondary schools in Derbyshire
Updated for the latest inspections (median graded year: 2022)
This Top 10 showcases secondary schools in the local authority of Derbyshire. It’s built from the latest graded Ofsted inspections. We rank Outstanding (grade 1) above Good (grade 2), then prioritise newer inspections. As tie-breakers, we consider the “Quality of education” sub-judgement (where available), then %FSM and school size.
Total secondary schools
45
Outstanding
2
Good
31
Median inspection year
2022
Ofsted grade mix (graded schools)
O: 5% · G: 76% · RI: 17% · I: 2%
2
Heanor Gate Spencer Academy
Heanor • Derbyshire • DE75 7RA
1
14 Sep 2023
3
Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy
Ilkeston • Derbyshire • DE7 5HS
2
9 Sep 2024
4
Friesland School
Sandiacre • Nottinghamshire • NG10 5AF
2
18 Jan 2024
5
Outwood Academy Hasland Hall
Chesterfield • Derbyshire • S41 0LP
2
10 Dec 2023
6
Glossopdale School and Sixth Form
Glossop • Derbyshire • SK13 2DA
2
7 Dec 2023
7
Hope Valley College
Hope Valley • Derbyshire • S33 6SD
2
4 Dec 2023
8
Heritage High School
Chesterfield • Derbyshire • S43 4QG
2
26 Nov 2023
9
The Ecclesbourne School
Belper • Derbyshire • DE56 4GS
2
15 Nov 2023
10
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School
Dronfield • Derbyshire • S18 2FZ
2
27 Sep 2023
How we rank these schools
- Headline Ofsted grade: Outstanding (1) outranks Good (2), then RI (3), then Inadequate (4).
- More recent graded inspection dates rank higher.
- Where available, we use the Quality of education sub-judgement as a tie-breaker.
- Lower free school meals (%) may break remaining ties.
- Larger roll (pupil count) is a final tie-breaker.
Only the ten highest-ranked schools are shown; we also list “near misses” just below.
About Ofsted grades
- Outstanding (1): Highest judgement across key areas.
- Good (2): Strong effectiveness; meets standards consistently.
- Requires improvement (3): Not yet good; clear areas to improve.
- Inadequate (4): Significant weaknesses found.
Ungraded Section 8 visits check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but they don’t replace it.
Data freshness & coverage
We refresh inspections and school snapshots regularly. If a school was inspected very recently, its report may not yet appear here.
Top-10 pages only appear for areas with at least 10 secondary schools that have a graded Ofsted inspection.
Map of the Top 10
Also highly rated nearby
- Brookfield Community School 2 • Jun 2023
- Whittington Green School 2 • Mar 2023
- Swanwick Hall School 2 • Mar 2023
- Tupton Hall School 2 • Jan 2023
- David Nieper Academy 2 • Nov 2022
- John Port Spencer Academy 2 • Jul 2022
- Frederick Gent School 2 • May 2022
- The Pingle Academy 2 • Nov 2021
- St Philip Howard Catholic Voluntary Academy 2 • Nov 2021
- Lady Manners School 2 • May 2020