Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Derby, DE22 1JD · Derby · secondary school
Check the area around this school
4th 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 — 7.7/10 against 664 of them, against 5.9/10 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 | 43.7 · 46 | 30% | 1.40 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.31 · 73 | 25% | 1.83 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.4 · 62 | 10% | 0.62 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.31 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,465 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,591. 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 in raising their attainment from the current 45.3 score? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll of 1465?
What Ofsted said about Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Overview
Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy continues to be a good school. Pupils feel safe and cared for, benefiting from strong pastoral support and an extensive personal development programme. While behaviour is calm and attendance has improved, the report identifies specific areas requiring refinement in teaching consistency and sixth-form provision.
Strengths
- Pupils receive a "high level of support," particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including expert assistance for visually impaired students.
- The "provision for pupils’ personal development is impressive," featuring a ‘Beyond the Classroom’ programme, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and a well-developed careers programme.
- Staff are "knowledgeable about the subjects they teach" and use effective routines to maintain calm classrooms where pupils focus on their work.
- Governance is a strength, with trustees providing "support, challenge, and expertise" and knowing the school very well.
- Sixth-form students actively participate in school life, acting as mentors for younger pupils and helping with reading.
Areas to improve
- Staff must systematically check on pupils’ understanding during lessons to ensure misconceptions are "reliably identified and addressed quickly."
- The school must carefully check the quality of education in the sixth form to ensure all students consistently benefit from high-quality provision, as outcomes for the academic route are currently variable.
- The ‘alternative pathway’ in key stage 3 requires completion to ensure pupils benefit from "ambitious curriculum content in all subjects."
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49.3 |
| 2024/25 | 45.3 |
| 2025/26 | 48.4 |
| 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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