Buxton Community School
77%
Capacity
1,031
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Buxton Community School
Buxton Community School is a mixed state secondary in the Derbyshire local authority, serving the High Peak area with a sixth form for pupils aged 11 to 18. It sits 36th out of 46 secondary schools in the county, and ranks 6th out of 7 schools in the High Peak district specifically. The top-performing peers in the local area, measured by Progress 8 scores, are St Mary's Catholic High School, The Ecclesbourne School, and Brookfield Community School. With a capacity of 1,331 and 1,031 pupils on roll, the school is not at full capacity, yet it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 admissions, receiving 213 applications for 153 places and making 152 offers to first-preference families. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Samantha Jones. It has held a Good rating from Ofsted since its graded inspection in 2013, with a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2020 confirming the school remains Good.
Academically, Buxton's Progress 8 score of -0.47 is below the Derbyshire local authority average of -0.11, placing the school in the bottom 50 nationally and in the 82nd percentile nationally. Its Attainment 8 score is 40.4, and 56.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 30.2% achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 9.3%, with just 7.7% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the picture is stronger: the school's value-added score of 0.26 is rated above average, with pupils achieving an average of 33.45 points per entry, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade, and 16% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form has 65 pupils, and the school's progress banding for KS5 is above average.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rugby, rowing, cross country, and martial arts, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to debate, chess, Young Enterprise, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision covers eight areas, including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With a free school meals rate of 28.6%, above the national average, Buxton serves a diverse intake. It suits families who value a strong sixth form with above-average value added, a broad extracurricular programme, and a school that is popular enough to be oversubscribed but not so selective that it excludes a wide range of abilities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | College Road, Buxton, High Peak, SK17 9EA |
| Headteacher | Samantha Jones |
| Local Authority | Derbyshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,031 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,031 / 1,331 (77% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Jan 2020Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (29 Jan 2020): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 6 Jun 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.47)
2564th of 3,141
Nationally
218th of 273
In East Midlands
6th of 7
In High Peak
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
38.0
'22/23
35.4
'23/24
33.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed153
213
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
152 families put this school as their 1st choice (71% 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 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.9%
- White (other)3.2%
- Mixed2.5%
- Asian0.8%
- Black0.6%
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.
7
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Buxton Community 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
College Road, Buxton
High Peak, SK17 9EA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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