SchoolScoresDerby Cathedral School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Church of England · Sixth form
Part of DERBY DIOCESAN ACADEMY TRUST
Great Northern Road, Derby, DE1 1LR
01332 325710 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 January 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
178 pupils in this year group.
35% — 3 points below the Derby average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Derby | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 35% | 39% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 41.5 | 42.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
167 pupils in this year group.
90% — 3 points above the Derby average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Derby | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 90% | 87% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 41% | 28% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 1% | 3% | 13% |
| Further education college | 41% | 47% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
87 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Derby | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 12% | 25% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 36% | 53% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 29.1 | 34.1 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
17 subjects, 194 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 39 | 3% | 3% | 19% |
| Biology | 22 | 0% | 14% | 27% |
| Mathematics | 20 | 5% | 30% | 40% |
| Sociology | 19 | 0% | 11% | 20% |
| English Language and Literature | 13 | 0% | 8% | 16% |
| History | 13 | 0% | 23% | 23% |
| Chemistry | 12 | 0% | 0% | 30% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 10 | 0% | 10% | 24% |
| Physics | 9 | 0% | 0% | 31% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 7 | 14% | 14% | 38% |
| English Literature | 6 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Government and Politics | 6 | 17% | 50% | 26% |
| Spanish | 6 | 0% | 17% | 34% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Geography, Religious Studies, Mathematics (Further), Polish.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Derby. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 176 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 158 |
| Of those, offered a place | 140 (89%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 431 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Derby | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 54.4% | 37.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 15th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Higher than 27% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.0% | 3.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Higher than 43% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.8% | 13.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Higher than 74% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 25.8% | 22.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Lower than 84% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Lower than 82% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 16.1% | 23.2%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Lower than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.8 | 18.8 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Lower than 60% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.6% | 7.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Higher than 79% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.3 | 16.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Derby. Higher than 78% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.1 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Derby. Higher than 78% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 19.3% | 15.2%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- The Bemrose School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Landau Forte College 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 65% grade 5+ English and maths
- UTC Derby Pride Park 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- Derby High School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 46% A*/A at A level
- Murray Park Community School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- Normanton House School 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Old Vicarage School 1.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Derby Moor Spencer Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Littleover Community School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Derby Cathedral School's Ofsted rating?
Derby Cathedral School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 January 2023.
How did Derby Cathedral School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Derby Cathedral School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 158 families put Derby Cathedral School as their first choice for 176 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 140 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 143734.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.