Heritage High School
Chesterfield, S43 4QG · Derbyshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
35th 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 — 2.0/10 against 508 of them, against 1.3/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.9 · 22 | 30% | 0.67 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.09 · 2 | 25% | 0.05 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.7 · 11 | 10% | 0.11 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Heritage High School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2023. In 2024/25, 36.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.09 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 (2.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 940 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,019. 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 strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Heritage High School
Overview
Heritage High School is described as a place where staff hold high aspirations and promote values of ‘ambition, teamwork, honesty and kindness’. Pupils are generally polite, friendly, and feel safe, with most behaving well and engaging positively with adults. The school has moved from a previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement to ‘Good’ across all inspection categories.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘well-sequenced’ and ‘ambitious’, with subject leaders ensuring content is progressive so pupils build on prior knowledge.
- Teachers possess ‘strong subject knowledge’ and use a consistent ‘Heritage way’ approach, including ‘do now’ tasks to check understanding.
- Staff prioritise reading, providing ‘timely and effective support’ for those lacking confidence, while selecting diverse books to enhance development.
- Pupils benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities and an active student leadership team that supports the local community.
- Personal development provision is ‘well-planned’, helping pupils prepare for life in modern Britain and understand protected characteristics.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must ensure ‘consistent use of assessment’ to identify gaps and misconceptions, raising the quality of curriculum delivery across all subjects.
- The school must implement plans to address the issue of too many pupils frequently excusing themselves from lessons, causing them to miss important learning.
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 | 36.3 |
| 2024/25 | 40.0 |
| 2025/26 | 37.7 |
| 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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