The Bemrose School

About The Bemrose School

The Bemrose School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.4 sits below the Derby local authority average of -0.31 for secondary schools, placing it in the bottom half of the 17 schools of its type in the area. Ranked 9th out of 15 in the LA for this metric, the school is performing worse than the typical Derby state secondary, though the gap is modest. This is a large all-through school with 1,440 pupils on roll, oversubscribed for its 194 Year 7 places in 2025/26 with 313 total applications and 111 first preferences, suggesting strong local demand despite the below-average headline. The school’s Ofsted rating is Good, a grade it has held across both its 2018 and 2024 inspections, with all seven sub-categories — from quality of education to behaviour and attitudes — rated Good in the most recent visit. For parents comparing options, Bemrose is a solidly performing school in a competitive Derby landscape, but its Progress 8 score indicates that, on average, pupils leave with slightly lower attainment than peers across the LA.

Academically, the picture is mixed. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 29.5, and just 29.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 94 measure), compared with 15.2% at the higher basics 95 threshold. The EBacc average point score is 2.32, but only 4.4% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and a tiny 1.9% achieved the 94 measure. Progress 8 is below average nationally, with the banding confirming this, and the school ranks in the bottom 50 nationally (78th percentile). At Key Stage 5, the sixth form is small with just 15 pupils, achieving a value-added score of -0.24, which is rated as average, and an average points per entry of 22.08, equivalent to a D+ grade. The school’s Ofsted breakdown notes that the sixth form provision is Good, so while outcomes are not outstanding, the quality of teaching and support is recognised as solid.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a theatre, science labs, astro turf, tennis courts, and a gymnasium, plus a sixth form centre and nursery provision for ages 3-19. Sports include rowing, gymnastics, and cricket, and clubs range from Young Enterprise to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provisions are extensive, covering ten categories from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disability, which will appeal to families with children who have additional needs. The school is oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.61 applications per place, and 110 first-preference offers were made for 194 total places, so securing a spot is competitive but not impossible. Bemrose suits families looking for a large, inclusive all-through school with a Good Ofsted rating, strong SEND support, and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are comfortable with below-average academic outcomes compared with the LA norm.

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