The Derby High School
About The Derby High School
The Derby High School is a mixed state secondary in Bury, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. In the local authority, it ranks second out of 14 schools of its type, placing it in the top 25 per cent nationally for Progress 8. The only school ahead of it locally is Holy Cross College, while Parrenthorn High School and Unsworth Academy share the next tier. The school is led by headteacher Helen Hubert and has no religious character. With 951 pupils against a capacity of 900, it is clearly popular — oversubscribed by a ratio of 2.66, with 471 applications for 177 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. First preference offers went to 171 of the 209 families who put it top of their list. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in June 2023, confirmed it remains Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. That’s a notable strength, especially given that Bury has no secondary schools rated Outstanding overall.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jun 2023Latest monitoring visit (7 Jun 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 4 Dec 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:05
Source: thederbyhighschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Derby High 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