Aldercar High School
92%
Capacity
690
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Aldercar High School
Aldercar High School is a popular choice among local families, with 92 first-preference applications for 93 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.9. That means nearly two families put it as their top pick for every available spot, a clear signal of its standing in the Amber Valley area. The school, led by headteacher Adam Blake, currently has 690 pupils on roll against a capacity of 750, so there is some room to grow. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This marked a notable improvement from the previous inspection in 2017, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. The sixth form, however, was graded Requires Improvement in both inspections, which is worth noting for families considering the post-16 provision.
Academically, the school's Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.39, placing it below average nationally and ranking it 6th out of 8 schools in Amber Valley. This is below the local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.11, meaning pupils here make less progress than their peers across Derbyshire. The Attainment 8 score sits at 37.9, and 56% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though this drops to 32.8% when looking at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 9.5%, and only 4.3% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the school's value added score is -0.94, which is well below average, and the average points per entry grade is an E. For families prioritising strong academic outcomes, these figures suggest the school faces significant challenges.
On the practical side, Aldercar offers a decent range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. There is a strong set of SEND provisions covering areas like dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health, plus a resourced provision. The school runs a variety of clubs including Debate, Orchestra, Chess, DofE, and Young Enterprise, and offers sports such as basketball, swimming, cricket, and hockey. Given its oversubscription, families living close to the school will likely have an advantage at allocation. This is a school that has improved its Ofsted rating and draws strong local demand, but its academic results are below both the LA and national averages. It may suit families who value the inclusive SEND support and broad extracurricular offer over top-tier exam performance.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Daltons Close, Nottingham, Amber Valley, NG16 4HL |
| Headteacher | Adam Blake |
| Local Authority | Derbyshire |
| Number of Pupils | 690 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.2% |
| School Capacity | 690 / 750 (92% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Jun 2019Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Jul 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.39)
2425th of 3,141
Nationally
201st of 273
In East Midlands
6th of 8
In Amber Valley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
'21/22
22.8
'22/23
20.8
'23/24
10.8
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed93
177
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
92 families put this school as their 1st choice (52% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.0%
- White (other)3.0%
- Mixed1.9%
- Asian1.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aldercar High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Daltons Close, Nottingham
Amber Valley, NG16 4HL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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