Schools by area › Derbyshire › Highfields School
Highfields School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Upper Lumsdale, Matlock DE4 5NA · highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk · 01629 581888
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47
- average Attainment 8 score. Derbyshire 45, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,298
- 93% of 1,394 places
- Local authority
- Derbyshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 26.5%
- First language not English
- 3.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 211 families put the school first and 214 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 214 | 211 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 203 | 205 | 1▲ | 97% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 182 | 179 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 220 | 217 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 223 | 201 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47, and 43.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Derbyshire it was 45, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47 | 46 | ||
| ▼43.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲68.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ●40.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.20 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 112950)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 49 | −3.2 |
| Further education | 35.9 | −0.1 |
| Other education | 0.5 | −0.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.3 | +1.9 |
| Employment | 1 | −2.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.8 | +2.4 |
| Activity not captured | 2.4 | +1.9 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 106 students | B- (35.2) | Average 0.00 | |
| 106 students | B- (35.2) | Average 0.00 | |
| 27 students | Dist (33.8) | Average +0.22 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 104 | C+ (32.9) | -0.09 |
| 2022/23 | 93 | B (39.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 98 | B (40.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 122 | B- (35.2) | +0.20 |
| 2017/18 | 117 | C (31) | -0.05 |
| 2016/17 | 148 | C+ (32.6) | +0.24 |
| 2015/16 | 131 | C+ (32.8) | +0.11 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 62.8 | −11.2 |
| Further and other education | 1.8 | +0.8 |
| Further education | 0.9 | — |
| Other education | 0.9 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 7.1 | +1.1 |
| Employment | 20.4 | +4.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.2 | +5.2 |
| Activity not captured | 1.8 | −0.2 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 8 January 2025, Ofsted’s outcome for Highfields School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 7 Jan 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2012
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 112950), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Sept 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 112950)
Sept 2011Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 112950)
What parents said
85% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (183 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 85%
- Replies
- 183
- 14% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 42 parents (23%) with SEND