Murray Park Community School

About Murray Park Community School

Murray Park Community School stands out in Derby for its academic performance, delivering a Progress 8 score of 0.03 that is well above the local authority average of -0.31 for secondary schools. This means pupils at this 11-16 mixed state school make more progress from their starting points than their peers across Derby as a whole. The school ranks third out of 15 secondary schools in the local authority, placing it in the top 20% of Derby schools by this measure. This is a significant achievement for a school where 32.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average. The school's attainment 8 score of 44 also reflects solid academic outcomes, and its EBacc average point score of 4.03 suggests a broad curriculum. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good overall, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019.

Breaking down the Progress 8 figures reveals a mixed picture across subjects. Pupils make particularly strong progress in maths, with a score of 0.21, meaning they achieve nearly a quarter of a grade more per subject than the national average. Progress in the EBacc subjects is also positive at 0.11. However, progress in English is slightly below average at -0.1, and the open element of the curriculum shows a score of -0.12. The basics measure, which looks at pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and maths, stands at 41.7%, while 62.4% achieve grade 4 or above. Just over half of pupils (51.4%) entered the EBacc combination of subjects, with 29.8% achieving a grade 5 or above in that suite. Nationally, the school's Progress 8 score places it in the 46th percentile, meaning it performs broadly in line with the average school across England.

The school is popular and oversubscribed, receiving 417 applications for 271 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 233 first-preference offers made. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.54, so families should be aware that securing a place is competitive. Facilities include art studios, music rooms, science labs, a sports hall, and playing fields, with a strong sporting offer covering football, netball, tennis, athletics, and even rowing and martial arts. There is a wide range of clubs including chess, debate, eco club, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school provides for a broad spectrum of special educational needs, including support for dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With no sixth form, pupils will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. This school is a strong choice for families in Derby who want a well-performing comprehensive that serves a diverse intake and has shown clear improvement under headteacher Nicola Caley.

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