Granville Academy

About Granville Academy

Granville Academy is a mixed 11-16 secondary school in South Derbyshire, currently home to 909 pupils against a capacity of 950, so it's running close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 34.8%, which is significantly above the national average and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-average levels of economic disadvantage. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 295 applications for 180 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.64, with 171 of those applications listing Granville as a first preference. Of those, 166 first-preference offers were made, meaning the school is popular but not completely out of reach for families who rank it top. The headteacher is Gemma Lowe, and the school has no religious character. It does not have a sixth form or nursery provision.

Academically, Granville is performing well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.24 is rated 'Above average' nationally, and it ranks first among the three secondary schools in South Derbyshire, and 10th out of 46 schools of the same type across the wider Derbyshire local authority. For context, the LA average Progress 8 score is -0.11, so pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers elsewhere in the county. Attainment 8 sits at 47.5, and 52.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school's EBacc average point score is 4.04, though only 18% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024, the school was judged Good across all areas — a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2022, with leadership, behaviour, personal development and the quality of education all now rated Good.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive. In the Parent View survey covering September 2024 to September 2025, 90% of the 83 respondents would recommend the school, and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. Strong majorities also felt their child is safe (92%), that the school has high expectations (92%), and that there is a good range of subjects available (95%). The school lists a solid set of facilities including science labs, a sports hall, astro turf, playing fields and a library, and offers clubs ranging from chess and gardening to drama and choir. On the SEND front, the school supports a broad range of needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs — 37% of survey respondents said their child has SEND, and 90% of those agreed the school gives them the support they need. For families in South Derbyshire looking for a well-regarded, oversubscribed state secondary with strong academic progress and a clear improvement trajectory, Granville Academy is a compelling option.

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