Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Derbyshire 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 451 schools across Derbyshire. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Derbyshire has 451 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 435 with a published Ofsted inspection, 25 (6%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 86% 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, Kirk Ireton C of E Primary School 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 Derbyshire 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.

451
Total schools
25
Outstanding (historic grade)
6%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60.2%
Avg KS2 SATs
40.6
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Kirk Ireton C of E Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 99 View school
2. Morley Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 93 View school
3. Longford CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 89 View school
4. Parwich Primary School
Primary
 Good 88 View school
5. Bakewell CofE Infant School
Primary
 Good 88 View school
6. Shardlow Primary School
Primary
 Good 87 View school
7. Carsington and Hopton Primary School
Primary
 Good 87 View school
8. William Gilbert Endowed Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
9. Wigley Primary School
Primary
 Good 86 View school
10. St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 86 View school
11. Hartington CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 86 View school
12. Redhill Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
13. Lea Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
14. Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 85 View school
15. Mugginton CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 85 View school
16. Brassington Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
17. Osmaston CofE (VC) Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
18. Turnditch Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
19. All Saints CofE Junior School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
20. Holbrook Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 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 Derbyshire

Best primary schools in DerbyshireTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in DerbyshireTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in DerbyshireReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in DerbyshireYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in DerbyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in NottinghamshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in NottinghamCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SheffieldCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Derbyshire

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Derbyshire?
There are 451 open primary & secondary schools in Derbyshire (closed schools are excluded). 25 of the 435 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 primary & secondary schools in Derbyshire?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Derbyshire is Kirk Ireton C of E Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 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 Derbyshire?
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 Derbyshire?
Primary and secondary applications in Derbyshire 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 Derbyshire 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.