Eckington School
Sheffield, S21 4GN · Derbyshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
33rd of 45 secondary schools in Derbyshire 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 — 5.2/10 against 695 of them, against 3.8/10 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 | 12 | 35% | 0.41 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 45.1 · 50 | 30% | 1.50 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.36 · 23 | 25% | 0.58 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.1 · 40 | 10% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Eckington School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 33.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.36 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Book/Reading Lunch, Chess, Photography, and STEM Club. Sports include Badminton, Basketball, Football, Netball, and Table Tennis. Arts and music options cover School Production, Singing, Piano/keyboard, Guitar, and Drums. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,124 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,453. 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 Progress 8 score and the national benchmark? What specific steps are taken to improve Attainment 8 scores relative
What Ofsted said about Eckington School
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have established a positive culture, with pupils feeling safe and supported. While attendance, behaviour, inclusion, and post-16 provision meet the expected standard, the quality of education is inconsistent. Leaders acknowledge that curriculum implementation and teaching vary across subjects, resulting in uneven pupil achievement and gaps in knowledge.
Strengths
- Pupils behave positively in a calm environment, with bullying described as "uncommon" and staff responding promptly to concerns.
- An inclusive culture ensures pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities feel understood, with staff making suitable adjustments like "movement breaks" and using "pupil passports".
- Attendance has improved for several groups due to clear steps by leaders, including "bespoke mentoring" and working with families to remove barriers.
- Personal development is strong, with pupils learning about healthy relationships, consent, and online safety through a "thoughtful programme".
- Post-16 students benefit from a "calm and purposeful" learning environment and a well-planned careers programme that helps them prepare for adult life.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure curriculum implementation is consistent across all subjects so that pupils build secure understanding and achieve well.
- Teaching needs to be more reliable, with staff applying agreed standards and using adaptive teaching to help every pupil access the curriculum.
- Leaders should close gaps in older pupils’ foundation skills in reading and writing, and improve their understanding of different religions and faiths.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.2 |
| 2024/25 | 40.6 |
| 2025/26 | 44.1 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of S21 4GN, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT