Lord Derby Academy
Liverpool, L36 6DG · Knowsley · secondary school
Check the area around this school
2nd of 6 secondary schools in Knowsley 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 — 1.4/10 against 205 of them, against 0.7/10 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 | 18.4 · 3 | 30% | 0.08 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.59 · 12 | 25% | 0.30 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 34.3 · 4 | 10% | 0.04 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Lord Derby Academy overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2023-09. In 2024/25, 27.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.59 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 (3.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,076 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. 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 8 score and the national median? What specific strategies are in place to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the school manage class sizes given the current proximity to its 1100-place capacity?
What Ofsted said about Lord Derby Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils feel "happy and well cared for" and are encouraged to be active in the community. Leaders have redesigned the curriculum to be "suitably broad and ambitious," resulting in current pupils achieving well, despite previous weaknesses. The inspection highlights strong leadership, effective safeguarding, and a positive culture where pupils treat each other with "kindness and respect."
Strengths
- The curriculum is now "suitably broad and ambitious," with subject leaders organising content carefully so teachers know "what important information pupils must learn."
- Staff work effectively to address misconceptions, and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive "detailed information" about adjustments to help them learn well.
- Leaders have strengthened reading support, ensuring staff have the skills to help pupils read "accurately and fluently," which helps them learn more effectively.
- Pupils benefit from a "strong careers programme" starting in Year 7 and learn about diverse families, faiths, and cultures to prepare for life in modern Britain.
- Safeguarding arrangements are "effective," with staff trained to recognise risks and leaders working closely with external agencies to secure timely help.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, teachers do not carefully check how well pupils remember important information over time, leading to unaddressed gaps in knowledge.
- Some older pupils who struggle with reading have not received timely help, hindering their ability to access the wider curriculum and achieve as well as they should.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," noting that leaders prioritise pupil welfare and staff are well trained to identify risks.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.7 |
| 2024/25 | 39.9 |
| 2025/26 | 34.3 |
| 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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