This schoolOther secondary schools in Derbyshire
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 8 January 2025Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
- 26 September 2012Graded inspection: Good · as Highfields School, URN 112950
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 entry371 applications · 214 places offered · 211 named it first
- 2026 1.7; Derbyshire median median 1.7
- 2025 1.7; Derbyshire median median 1.7
- 2024 1.7; Derbyshire median median 1.8
- 2023 1.7; Derbyshire median median 1.9
- 2022 1.7; Derbyshire median median 1.8
- 2021 1.8; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
- 2020 1.8; Derbyshire median median 2.0; as the previous school
- 2019 1.9; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
- 2018 1.9; Derbyshire median median 1.9; as the previous school
- 2017 1.7; Derbyshire median median 2.0; as the previous school
- 2016 1.9; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
- 2015 1.6; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
- 2014 1.7; Derbyshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
- This school
- Derbyshire median
Dashed bars: as Highfields School (URN 112950), 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.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 214 | 371 | 1.7 | 211 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2025 | 203 | 352 | 1.7 | 205 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2024 | 182 | 314 | 1.7 | 179 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2023 | 220 | 382 | 1.7 | 217 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2022 | 223 | 376 | 1.7 | 201 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2021 * | 209 | 379 | 1.8 | 205 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2020 * | 198 | 352 | 1.8 | 188 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2019 * | 190 | 363 | 1.9 | 179 | 0.94 |
| Sep 2018 * | 188 | 358 | 1.9 | 182 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2017 * | 197 | 329 | 1.7 | 194 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2016 * | 172 | 323 | 1.9 | 158 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2015 * | 201 | 330 | 1.6 | 195 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2014 * | 171 | 290 | 1.7 | 156 | 0.91 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 224 | 49.6 | 50% | 75% | – |
| 2024/25 | 202 | 47.0 | 43% | 68% | – |
| 2023/24 | 206 | 45.6 | 48% | 71% | +0.05 |
| 2022/23 | 206 | 50.2 | 59% | 77% | +0.09 |
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
- Highfields SchoolThis schoolThis schoolStandards maintained20251.7applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
- 7.9 km · DerbyshireNot yet inspected2.0applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
- 9.3 km · DerbyshireGood20221.4applications per place 43.4Attainment 8
- 10.4 km · DerbyshireGood20232.3applications per place 52.0Attainment 8
- 11.3 km · Derbyshire20261.7applications per place 36.4Attainment 8
- 11.7 km · DerbyshireGood20222.0applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
- 11.7 km · DerbyshireGood20231.8applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
- 11.9 km · DerbyshireStandards maintained20251.9applications per place 53.0Attainment 8
- 12.3 km · Derbyshire20261.7applications per place 42.9Attainment 8
- 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
- 148299 · 830/4174
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,394 pupils · 1,298 on roll
- Free school meals
- 26.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 October 2021
- Replaced
- Highfields School (URN 112950)
- Address
- Upper Lumsdale, Matlock, DE4 5NA
- Local authority
- Derbyshire · Derbyshire Dales
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources