Highfields School
Matlock, DE4 5NA · Derbyshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
14th 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 — 7.0/10 against 879 of them, against 6.0/10 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 | 50.0 · 62 | 30% | 1.87 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.05 · 54 | 25% | 1.35 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.6 · 68 | 10% | 0.68 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Highfields School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.05 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.2 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in February 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Evening of Theatre and the Beauty and the Beast Musical Performance. Trips include visits to Madrid, New York, Aachen, and Bordeaux.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,298 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,394. 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 maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific support is available for students aiming to exceed the national median in Attainment 8? How are the international trips to cities like Madrid and New York funded or organised for families?
What Ofsted said about Highfields School
Overview
Highfields School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. Pupils enjoy attending this welcoming school, where staff model respect and care, fostering strong relationships and a positive environment. The school continues to provide high-quality education with ambitious expectations for all learners.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a ‘highly aspirational and broad curriculum’ designed with consistency and precision, ensuring an ambitious range of subjects.
- Staff are skilled and knowledgeable, presenting information clearly and sharing resources to provide a consistent approach that greatly benefits learning.
- The school makes ‘careful and purposeful checks on pupils’ learning’, using this information to provide timely, tailored support in lessons.
- A love of reading is promoted effectively, with initiatives helping reluctant readers gain confidence and those falling behind to catch up.
- Pupils have ‘highly positive attitudes to their learning’, focusing intently and demonstrating diligence in their work.
Areas to improve
- The school has not identified clearly enough the intended outcomes of strategies supporting disadvantaged pupils, meaning some support is not precisely tailored to their needs.
- Leaders should ensure work to support disadvantaged pupils has the precision needed to evaluate impact and plan for further improvements effectively.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.6 |
| 2024/25 | 47.0 |
| 2025/26 | 49.6 |
| 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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