Lees Brook Academy
96%
Capacity
1,101
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Lees Brook Academy
Lees Brook Academy is a popular choice among Derby families, with 150 first-preference applications for 184 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.88. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high level of first-choice demand suggests strong local satisfaction. The school has capacity for 1,147 pupils and currently enrols 1,101, so it is running close to full. A significant 35.1% of students are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. The turnaround in leadership and management, which moved from a 2 to a 2 (Good), appears to have stabilised the school’s direction.
Academically, Lees Brook’s Progress 8 score of -0.24 is below the national average, but it sits above the Derby local authority average of -0.31, placing it 8th out of 15 secondary schools in the area. In the East Midlands region, it ranks 169th out of 273 schools, and nationally it falls in the bottom 50% of schools by Progress 8. The Attainment 8 score is 41.9, and 62.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 37.7% reached grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 18.8%, and just 9.7% of students achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, provision is rated Good, and the school offers a range of A-level and vocational options. Compared with its top local peers like Littleover Community School (Progress 8 of 0.46), Lees Brook has room to improve, but it is performing better than several other Derby secondaries.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a Sixth Form Centre, ICT Suite, library, gymnasium, tennis courts, and an astro turf pitch. Sports on offer include martial arts, hockey, rowing, swimming, cricket, rugby, football, rounders, and tennis. There is also a strong extracurricular programme with clubs covering drama, choir, gardening, Young Enterprise, Eco Club, orchestra, debate, book club, film club, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and Model UN. For SEND, the school supports a wide range of needs including dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children require additional support. The school is oversubscribed, so parents should apply early and consider the first-preference deadline. It suits families who value a Good-rated, improving school with strong pastoral and extracurricular provision, particularly those in the Derby area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Morley Road, Derby, Derby, DE21 4QX |
| Headteacher | Clare Watson |
| Local Authority | Derby |
| Number of Pupils | 1,101 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,101 / 1,147 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.24)
2111th of 3,141
Nationally
169th of 273
In East Midlands
8th of 15
In Derby
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
2022/239%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 203 pupils).
- FE college52%
- Sixth form college16%
- Apprenticeship10%
- School sixth form (stay)9%
- Employment7%
- 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed184
346
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
150 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.2%
- White (other)4.8%
- Mixed4.4%
- Asian2.9%
- Black0.5%
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.
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.
9
Total schools
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lees Brook 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
Morley Road, Derby
Derby, DE21 4QX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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