City of Derby Academy
Derby, DE24 3AR · Derby · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th of 16 secondary schools in Derby we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 1.2/10 against 197 of them, against 0.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 15.6 · 2 | 30% | 0.04 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.56 · 13 | 25% | 0.33 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 31.8 · 2 | 10% | 0.02 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
City of Derby Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 26.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.56 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in May 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 925 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,050. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific actions are being taken to address the "Requires improvement" rating from the 2024 inspection?
What Ofsted said about City of Derby Academy
Overview
City of Derby Academy is described as a school with a "caring ethos" where pupils feel safe and happy, benefiting from strong staff relationships and high-quality pastoral support. While behaviour and personal development are rated as good, the quality of education "requires improvement" due to inconsistencies in curriculum delivery and reading provision. Leaders have secured many improvements since the last inspection, with a broad and ambitious curriculum now in place.
Strengths
- Pupils receive "high-quality pastoral support" and know staff are available to discuss concerns.
- Behaviour is "good," with pupils being polite and respectful, supported by staff trained in building relationships.
- Personal development is "well organised," including a strong careers programme and celebration of diversity.
- The curriculum is now "broad and ambitious" with logically sequenced knowledge in most subjects.
- Leaders hold staff accountable while considering their well-being, and staff "overwhelmingly enjoy working at the school."
Areas to improve
- Teachers in some subjects do not check closely enough on what pupils know, leading to gaps in knowledge.
- The teaching of phonics is at an early stage, and pupils cannot yet consistently read unfamiliar words accurately.
- There are limited opportunities for pupils to read in lessons beyond Year 8, restricting their exposure to wider texts.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 32.3 |
| 2024/25 | 34.8 |
| 2025/26 | 31.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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