Classpot

Derby Cathedral School

Derby, DE1 1LRSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2023
Progress 8
-0.69
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
173 1st-choice / 180 places
Ranking
#2,833
of 3,141 nationally

About Derby Cathedral School

Derby Cathedral School is a Church of England secondary that clearly resonates with local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 437 applications for 180 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.43. Of those, 173 families put it as their first preference, and 142 of those were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a school that parents in Derby are actively choosing, even though it doesn't have the highest academic rankings in the area. The school is led by headteacher Andy Brown and currently has 1,145 pupils on roll, operating slightly below its full capacity of 1,260. It's a mixed, state secondary with a sixth form, and it serves a community where 52.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, rated the school Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressGreat Northern Road, Derby, Derby, DE1 1LR
HeadteacherAndy Brown
Local AuthorityDerby
Number of Pupils1,145
Free School Meals (FSM)52.2%
School Capacity1,145 / 1,260 (91% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

17 Jan 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 13 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Sixth Form CentreGymnasiumTheatreTennis CourtsAstro TurfPlaying FieldsDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

SwimmingFootballMartial ArtsCross CountryRowingBadmintonRoundersNetballAthletics

Clubs & Activities

ChessDramaGardeningModel United NationsCodingBook ClubDuke of EdinburghChoirYoung EnterpriseDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Source: derbycathedralschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Derby Cathedral School

Derby Cathedral School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.