Allestree Woodlands School
108%
Capacity
1,400
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Allestree Woodlands School
Allestree Woodlands School sits in the middle of the pack in Derby, ranking 7th out of 15 state secondaries in the local authority, but its headline Progress 8 score of -0.21 is actually better than the Derby average of -0.31. That gap matters: while the school’s progress measure is technically ‘Below average’ nationally, it is outperforming the typical LA school by a tenth of a point. The Attainment 8 score of 46.8 and the basics measure (66.5% achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths) suggest a solid core offer, though only 40.6% hit the stronger grade 5 threshold. The EBacc entry rate is low at 17.6%, and just 9.6% of pupils entered the EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. This is a school that is doing better than its local peers on progress, but still has room to improve on the highest academic benchmarks.
Academically, the picture is mixed across different subjects and key stages. At KS4, progress in English (-0.37) and maths (-0.25) is below average, while the EBacc element (-0.08) is closer to the national average. The school’s sixth form is similarly positioned: the value added score is -0.21, which is ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry is 28.82, equivalent to a grade C. Only 3.6% of A-level entries achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2024 upgraded it from ‘Requires improvement’ to ‘Good’ across all categories, including behaviour, leadership, and sixth form provision. That jump in rating reflects genuine improvement under headteacher Gemma Penny, and the inspection report notes that the school is now providing a good standard of education across the board.
Allestree Woodlands is a large, oversubscribed school with 1,400 pupils against a capacity of 1,300, and for 2025/26 entry it received 436 applications for 220 places, with 187 first-preference offers made. That means nearly two applications per place, so families need to be confident in their catchment position. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, playing fields, science labs, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is strong, with options like rugby, football, swimming, and dance, while clubs include DofE, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. This is a good-value state option in Derby that suits families looking for a large, improving comprehensive with decent facilities and a sixth form, particularly those who value the recent Ofsted upgrade and the above-average local progress score.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Blenheim Drive, Derby, Derby, DE22 2LW |
| Headteacher | Gemma Penny |
| Local Authority | Derby |
| Number of Pupils | 1,400 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,400 / 1,300 (108% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.21)
2033rd of 3,141
Nationally
163rd of 273
In East Midlands
7th of 15
In Derby
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
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.8
'22/23
30.8
'23/24
28.8
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 91 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
21%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)58%
- Employment29%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed220
436
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
188 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.3%
- Mixed7.5%
- White (other)4.3%
- Asian4.1%
- Black0.4%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
6
Total schools
5
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 Allestree Woodlands 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
Blenheim Drive, Derby
Derby, DE22 2LW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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