Lord Derby Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of THE DEAN TRUST

Seel Road, Huyton, Liverpool, L36 6DG

0151 477 8860 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 27 June 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths28%England 45% · 2024/25
29th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 13% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,076Room for 1,100 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,007 in 2019, 1,110 in 2021, 1,090 in 2022, 1,072 in 2023, 1,086 in 2024, 1,078 in 2025, 1,076 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.3284 for 217 places, September 2026
11th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 87% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 27 June 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

204 pupils in this year group.

28% — 3 points above the Knowsley average, and 18 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKnowsleyEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 28% 25% 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. 39.9 34.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 2.9 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 17%This school 2023/24: 26%This school 2024/25: 28% This school England 45% 2022/23 17% 2023/24 26% 2024/25 28%

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.

201 pupils in this year group.

83% — about the same as the Knowsley average, and 9 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKnowsleyEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 83% 82% 92%
School sixth form 3% 6% 34%
Sixth form college 10% 13% 13%
Further education college 60% 50% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 6% 3%
Work 2% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
90%83%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 Knowsley. 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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered217
Families who put it first284
Of those, offered a place208 (73%)
Families who listed it at all484

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.3

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Knowsley

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolKnowsleyEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
11th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
54.1% 53.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
12th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.5% 4.1%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
39th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.3% 18.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
38th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 19% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.4% 6.8%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
15th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 36% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.2% 10.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
Joint 16th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
23.9% 31.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 88% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.5 28.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
4th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 86% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.6% 11.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.40% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 31st highest of 46 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 24% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.5 15.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 42nd highest of 46 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.9 9.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 22nd highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 54% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
13.9% 13.3%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Lord Derby Academy's Ofsted rating?

Lord Derby Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 27 June 2023.

How did Lord Derby Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 28% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 18 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Lord Derby Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 284 families put Lord Derby Academy as their first choice for 217 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 208 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.