The Pingle Academy
About The Pingle Academy
The Pingle Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 403 applications for 220 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.83. Of those, 214 first-preference offers were made from 237 first-preference applications, indicating strong demand. The school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, but the high application numbers suggest a solid reputation in South Derbyshire. Headteacher Michelle Oliphant leads this mixed, non-denominational secondary school and sixth form, which has a capacity of 1,376 and currently enrols 1,375 pupils. A third of its students (33.9%) are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good overall, with Good marks across all categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This was a notable improvement from its 2015 inspection, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
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
12 Oct 2021Source: Ofsted, 23 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
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
08:25 – 14:55
Breakfast club
08:00-08:25
Source: pingleacademy.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
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