Best Secondary Schools in Derby 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 15 schools across Derby. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Derby has 15 open secondary schools. Of the 15 with a published Ofsted inspection, 1 (7%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 87% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Landau Forte College currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Derby follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

15
Total schools
1
Outstanding (historic grade)
7%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
57.6%
Avg KS2 SATs
39.4
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Landau Forte College
Secondary
 Outstanding 79 View school
🥈 Littleover Community School
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
🥉 Chellaston Academy
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
4. West Park School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
5. Derby Moor Spencer Academy
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
6. Allestree Woodlands School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
7. Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
8. UTC Derby Pride Park
Secondary
 Good 55 View school
9. Derby Cathedral School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
10. Lees Brook Academy
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
11. Murray Park Community School
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
12. Noel-Baker Academy
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
13. Da Vinci Academy
Secondary
 Good 46 View school
14. City of Derby Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 36 View school
15. Alvaston Moor Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 33 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Derby

Best primary schools in DerbyTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in DerbyTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in DerbyPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in DerbyReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in NottinghamCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in DerbyshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in NottinghamshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LeicestershireCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Derby?
There are 15 open secondary schools in Derby (closed schools are excluded). 1 of the 15 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Derby?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Derby is Landau Forte College. The full ranked table above lists the top 15 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Derby?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Derby?
Primary and secondary applications in Derby are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Derby council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.