Chesterfield College
N/A
Capacity
N/A
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Chesterfield College
Chesterfield College parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school, with 98% of respondents to the most recent Ofsted Parent View survey saying they would recommend it. The survey, which ran between September 2024 and September 2025 and collected 111 responses, shows particularly strong feelings around safety and behaviour: 57% strongly agreed that their child feels safe, and 61% strongly agreed the school ensures pupils are well behaved. On happiness, 48% agreed and another 48% strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school. The school is clearly popular locally — for 2025/26 admissions it received 765 applications for 305 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.51, with 274 offers going to first-preference applicants out of 368 who put it top. Parents also feel the school has high expectations, with 54% strongly agreeing on that point, and 49% strongly agreeing there is a good range of subjects available.
Academically, Chesterfield College is a solidly average performer. Its Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was 0.01, placing it in the average band nationally and ranking 4th out of 9 schools in the Chesterfield local authority area. That score is notably above the Derbyshire local authority average of -0.11, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than peers across the wider county. The Attainment 8 score sits at 47, and 70.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though the figure drops to 47.1% for grade 5 or above. At A-level, the school’s value-added score was -0.05, also in the average band, with students averaging a C grade per entry and 29 points per entry. The best three A-levels averaged a C grade too, with 6.7% of students achieving AAB or higher. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023 confirmed it remains Good, upgrading from a Requires Improvement rating in its previous graded inspection back in 2014.
The school caters for students aged 16 to 99, with a dedicated Sixth Form Centre and a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, music rooms, and science labs. It offers a broad set of clubs from Film Club and Gardening to Model UN and Coding, and sports include hockey, netball, swimming, and gymnastics. For students with special educational needs, the school lists provisions for nine different needs including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities — though only 23% of Parent View respondents said their child has SEND, and 62% of those agreed the school gives them the support they need. With 25.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is a mixed, non-religious state secondary with no boarding. Given its strong parent satisfaction and oversubscription, this is a school that suits families prioritising a safe, well-behaved environment with average but improving academic outcomes, particularly those in the Chesterfield area who want a sixth form on site.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 16 to 99 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Infirmary Road, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, S41 7NG |
| Headteacher | Julie Richards |
| Local Authority | Derbyshire |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,326 |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (29 Mar 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 3 Apr 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.01)
1497th of 3,141
Nationally
121st of 273
In East Midlands
4th of 9
In Chesterfield
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
31.5
'22/23
27.9
'23/24
29.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2346%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 200 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)46%
- FE college38%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained4%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 70 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
4%
Russell Group
6%
Top-third HE
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)60%
- Employment16%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
- Not sustained1%
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- Mathematics18
- English Language15
- Biology14
- Physics12
- English Literature10
- Chemistry9
- Psychology9
- History6
- Geography5
- Mathematics (Further)3
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.
Ofsted Parent View
111 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed305
765
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
368 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% 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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.9%
- Mixed3.0%
- White (other)2.1%
- Asian1.4%
- Black0.2%
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.
Half 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.
10
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
7
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 Chesterfield College
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
Infirmary Road, Chesterfield
Chesterfield, S41 7NG
Infirmary Road, Chesterfield
Chesterfield, S41 7NG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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