Noel-Baker Academy
89%
Capacity
1,243
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Noel-Baker Academy
Noel-Baker Academy is a large secondary school in Derby, currently educating 1,243 pupils against a capacity of 1,400, so it is not yet full. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 42.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and among the highest in the local authority. This context matters when interpreting the school’s performance data. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 383 applications for 274 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.4, with 243 first-preference offers made. That suggests Noel-Baker is a popular choice locally, particularly given its recent improvement in Ofsted rating.
Academically, Noel-Baker’s Progress 8 score is -0.84, placing it well below the national average and ranking it 14th out of 15 secondary schools in Derby. The local authority average Progress 8 is -0.31, so the school is significantly behind its peers. Attainment 8 sits at 35.2, and the basics measure (grade 4 or above in English and maths) is 35.8%, compared with a national average around 50%. The EBacc average point score is 3.03, and only 8.8% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. However, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with Good in all categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a notable improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2018, suggesting that while outcomes remain low, the school’s leadership and culture have stabilised.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and sports hall, plus clubs such as science club, debate, and eco club. It has extensive SEND provision, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, among others. There is no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying should be aware that a first-preference application is advisable. Noel-Baker will suit families who value a school that has made clear progress in leadership and behaviour, and that provides strong pastoral and SEND support, but who are realistic about its current academic outcomes relative to other Derby secondaries.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Bracknell Drive, Derby, Derby, DE24 0BR |
| Headteacher | Paul Greenough |
| Local Authority | Derby |
| Number of Pupils | 1,243 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 42.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,243 / 1,400 (89% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 3 Apr 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.84)
2947th of 3,141
Nationally
263rd of 273
In East Midlands
14th of 15
In Derby
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
2022/2312%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 219 pupils).
- FE college68%
- School sixth form (stay)12%
- Not sustained7%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
91% 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed274
383
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
243 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:05
Breakfast club
08:15-08:30
Source: noelbakeracademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British71.4%
- Mixed9.4%
- White (other)7.2%
- Asian5.2%
- Black1.0%
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.
13
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
10
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 Noel-Baker 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
Bracknell Drive, Derby
Derby, DE24 0BR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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