John Flamsteed Community School
139%
Capacity
834
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About John Flamsteed Community School
John Flamsteed Community School is a mixed state secondary in the Amber Valley area of Derbyshire, serving pupils from age 11 to 16. It ranks second among the eight secondary schools in Amber Valley based on Progress 8 scores, placing it in the top quarter locally. The top-performing peers in the local authority are St Mary's Catholic High School, The Ecclesbourne School, and Brookfield Community School, all of which sit ahead of John Flamsteed in the rankings. The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 370 applications for 170 places, with 160 first-preference offers made. That works out at 2.18 applicants per place, a clear sign of its popularity with local families. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils move on elsewhere after Year 11. It is led by headteacher Helen Frost-Briggs and has a capacity of 600, though it currently houses 834 pupils, well above that figure.
Academically, John Flamsteed delivers strong results. Its Progress 8 score of 0.34 is rated 'Above average' nationally and sits well above the Derbyshire local authority average of -0.11. The school's Attainment 8 score is 51.4, and 60.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. Progress in maths is particularly strong at 0.49, while English progress is 0.22 and EBacc subjects come in at 0.46. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025, the school was judged Good across all four graded areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The previous inspection in 2016 also rated the school Good overall. Parent feedback is broadly positive: 88% of respondents would recommend the school, and 86% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, sports hall, music rooms, and art studios. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, hockey, and dance, while clubs range from science club and debate to orchestra and newspaper. For pupils with additional needs, the school supports nine categories of SEND, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. However, parent views on SEND support are more mixed: 58% agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 32% disagreed or strongly disagreed. With its strong academic record and high demand for places, John Flamsteed is a solid choice for families in Amber Valley seeking a well-regarded secondary without a sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Derby Road, Ripley, Amber Valley, DE5 8NP |
| Headteacher | Helen Frost-Briggs |
| Local Authority | Derbyshire |
| Number of Pupils | 834 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.2% |
| School Capacity | 834 / 600 (139% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 10 Feb 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.34)
766th of 3,141
Nationally
54th of 273
In East Midlands
2nd of 8
In Amber Valley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2321%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 118 pupils).
- FE college45%
- School sixth form (stay)21%
- Sixth form college13%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained5%
95% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
130 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed170
370
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
160 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.7%
- Mixed2.7%
- White (other)1.8%
- Asian0.6%
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.
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.
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.
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 John Flamsteed 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
Derby Road, Ripley
Amber Valley, DE5 8NP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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