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Academy converter · Derbyshire

St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 407Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Roman CatholicReligious character
  • 146128URN

Palace Fields, Buxton, SK17 6AF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.0per place
0.3 above Derbyshire median (1.7)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Derbyshire

176 applications for 87 places · 12th of 45 in Derbyshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
42.1of 90
34th of 45 in Derbyshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded inspection · 3 June 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
2.0applications per place, Year 7
0.3 above Derbyshire median (1.7) 0.2 below England median (2.2)

176 applications · 87 places offered · 86 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 2.0; Derbyshire median median 1.7
  2. 2025 2.5; Derbyshire median median 1.7
  3. 2024 2.2; Derbyshire median median 1.8
  4. 2023 2.6; Derbyshire median median 1.9
  5. 2022 2.6; Derbyshire median median 1.8
  6. 2021 2.5; Derbyshire median median 1.8
  7. 2020 3.1; Derbyshire median median 2.0
  8. 2019 2.4; Derbyshire median median 1.8
  9. 2018 2.7; Derbyshire median median 1.9; as the previous school
  10. 2017 2.4; Derbyshire median median 2.0; as the previous school
  11. 2016 2.3; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
  12. 2015 1.9; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
  13. 2014 2.0; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Derbyshire median in 8 of 8 years.
  • This school
  • Derbyshire median

Dashed bars: as St Thomas More Catholic School Buxton (URN 112971), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 2026871762.0860.99
Sep 2025501262.5501.00
Sep 2024791742.2730.92
Sep 2023812092.6760.94
Sep 2022852202.6750.88
Sep 2021882192.5860.98
Sep 2020892763.11051.18
Sep 2019872112.4840.97
Sep 2018 *892382.7860.97
Sep 2017 *902122.4981.09
Sep 2016 *871992.3951.09
Sep 2015 *841561.9891.06
Sep 2014 *751502.0680.91

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

88 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.134th of 45 in Derbyshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths39%30th of 45 in Derbyshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths60%
  • This school
  • Derbyshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.51
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)8842.139%60%–
2024/258949.547%81%–
2023/249039.229%51%−0.51
2022/238442.833%56%−0.10

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
146128 · 830/4601
Trust
St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Capacity
450 pupils · 407 on roll
Free school meals
33.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2018
Replaced
St Thomas More Catholic School Buxton (URN 112971)
Address
Palace Fields, Buxton, SK17 6AF
Local authority
Derbyshire · High Peak

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources