Chellaston Academy
N/A
Capacity
1,815
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Chellaston Academy
Chellaston Academy is a popular choice among Derby families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 469 applications for 295 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.59. Of those, 301 families put it as their first preference, and 287 of those were offered a place. That level of demand suggests parents who get in tend to be pleased with what they find. The school is a large mixed secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Scott Garrity, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across every category, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. That’s a significant turnaround from its previous inspection in 2022, when it was judged Inadequate overall. The current Good rating reflects a school that has clearly addressed its earlier weaknesses and is now delivering a solid standard of education.
Academically, Chellaston performs above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of -0.07 is comfortably ahead of the Derby local authority average of -0.31, and the school ranks 5th out of 15 secondary schools in the area. Attainment 8 sits at 48.4, and 73.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 53.9% hitting the stronger grade 5 benchmark. The EBacc entry rate is relatively low at 23.2%, but 20.2% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.21 is rated as above average, with students averaging a B- grade across their best three A-levels and 21.1% achieving at least ABB. The sixth form is a clear strength, and the school’s overall performance places it in the top half of schools nationally by Progress 8.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is broad, with everything from rowing and martial arts to hockey and rugby, and there are clubs covering the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, drama, choir, orchestra, and a school newspaper. For families with children who have additional needs, Chellaston lists support for a wide range of SEND categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With 19.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It’s a good fit for families who want a large, well-equipped secondary with a strong sixth form and a track record of improvement, particularly those who value a broad extracurricular offer alongside solid academic results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Swarkestone Road, Derby, Derby, DE73 5UB |
| Headteacher | Scott Garrity |
| Local Authority | Derby |
| Number of Pupils | 1,815 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.6% |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.07)
1685th of 3,141
Nationally
138th of 273
In East Midlands
5th of 15
In Derby
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
40.9
'22/23
35.2
'23/24
37.3
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
2022/2371%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 122 pupils).
- University (HE)71%
- Employment13%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained7%
- Other education2%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Biology42
- Psychology41
- Chemistry33
- Mathematics28
- Business Studies:Single26
- History25
- Economics23
- Art and Design (Fine Art)16
- Physics16
- Sociology16
- Geography14
- Computer Studies / Computing11
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed295
469
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
301 families put this school as their 1st choice (64% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:15
Source: chellaston.derby.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British71.2%
- Asian12.8%
- Mixed6.6%
- White (other)3.9%
- 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.
Half 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.
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 Chellaston Academy
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
Swarkestone Road, Derby
Derby, DE73 5UB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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