The Ecclesbourne School

About The Ecclesbourne School

The Ecclesbourne School sits in the Derbyshire local authority area of Amber Valley, where it ranks first among the eight secondary schools in the borough. That puts it ahead of nearby peers including St Mary's Catholic High School, Brookfield Community School, and Outwood Academy Newbold, all of which also post positive Progress 8 scores. Across the wider East Midlands region, Ecclesbourne places 37th out of 273 secondary schools, placing it comfortably in the top 14 per cent. Nationally, it ranks 629th out of 3,141 schools, which puts it in the top 20 per cent of all state secondaries. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, serving 1,576 pupils aged 11 to 18. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated the school Good overall, a significant improvement from the Inadequate rating it received just the year before. While behaviour and attitudes still require improvement according to that inspection, leadership and management, quality of education, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all judged Good.

Academically, Ecclesbourne delivers strong results. Its Progress 8 score of 0.41 is rated Above average, meaning pupils make significantly more progress than the national average, and it stands well above the Derbyshire local authority average of -0.11. Attainment 8 sits at 57.2, and 85.7 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 69.3 per cent reaching grade 5 or above. Over half of pupils entered the English Baccalaureate, and 51.7 per cent achieved it at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.06, which is in line with the national average, and the average grade across the best three A-levels is a B. The average points per entry is 37.04, equivalent to a B-. The sixth form is well-subscribed, with 203 pupils in the data, and 21.8 per cent achieved at least AAB in their best three A-levels.

The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 383 applications for 233 places, with 256 first-preference applications and 232 first-preference offers. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.64. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, a theatre, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, netball, tennis, and gymnastics, while clubs range from chess and debate to eco club and young enterprise. The school’s SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress in a large, well-equipped setting, with a sixth form that performs solidly at A-level.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The Ecclesbourne School

Helpful Guides for Parents