Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Popular emoji_events #22 in Derbyshire public Top 26% UK

Belper School and Sixth Form Centre

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Nick Goforth

location_onBelper, DE56 0DA

language Visit Website phone 1773825281

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,182

trending_up

Attainment 8

44.3

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GCSE Rank

#23 in Derbyshire

#1,867 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Belper School and Sixth Form Centre is a Foundation school secondary school in Belper, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Belper School and Sixth Form Centre is a foundation school in Belper, Derbyshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,186 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44.3, placing the school #23 in Derbyshire and #1,867 of 3,216 nationally. 44.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 12.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 22 A-level subjects. 39.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 12.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.18 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

44.3

Grade 5+ E&M

44.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)12.1%

Entering EBacc41.50%

EBacc APS3.96

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45.60%

EBacc APS4.07

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.36

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc50%

EBacc APS4.16

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.55

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS4.09

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc52%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc43%

EBacc APS4.46

2018

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS4.2

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)69%

Apprenticeships13%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.18

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.8%

Achieving A*–A12.9%

Achieving A*–B39.8%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate93.2%

A-level subjects offered22

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.24

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate83.30%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate90.00%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate95.5%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

20 May 2025

Inspection Report

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22 November 2022

Inspection Report

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01 October 2019

Inspection Report

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20 March 2018

Inspection Report

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23 September 2014

Inspection Report

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08 May 2013

Inspection Report

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30 January 2013

Inspection Report

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09 November 2010

Inspection Report

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01 December 2009

Inspection Report

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21 March 2007

Inspection Report

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27 January 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

6 Evaluations

2025-05-20

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-11-22

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-10-01

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2018-03-20

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-09-23

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-01-30

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

history Predecessor Link

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

5.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.4%(29 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

3pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,186 pupils. During this period, there were 59 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,186	59	5.0%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,188	64	5.4%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,173	68	5.8%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,173	77	6.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,182	94	8.0%	8.2%	4
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,169	57	4.9%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,182	47	4.0%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,183	33	2.8%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,216	57	4.7%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,218	40	3.3%	4.9%	2
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,224	55	4.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,209	29	2.4%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,211	9	0.7%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,214	37	3.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,199	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,199	11	0.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,199	17	1.4%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,199	21	1.8%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,203	29	2.4%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,201	22	1.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,200	16	1.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,213	11	0.9%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,222	22	1.8%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,291	26	2.0%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,294	40	3.1%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,302	28	2.2%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 145 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 46 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Physical Disability 8 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

89.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree49%

disagree19%

strongly disagree1%

don't know9%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree26%

agree36%

disagree26%

strongly disagree6%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree35%

agree29%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

not applicable24%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes23%

no77%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree39%

agree37%

disagree10%

strongly disagree12%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree32%

agree43%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree47%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree31%

agree49%

disagree16%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree48%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree42%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree34%

agree48%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes85%

no15%

Top Secondary Schools in Derbyshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy

Outstanding

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The Ecclesbourne School

Good

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John Flamsteed Community School

Good

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Lady Manners School

Good

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John Port Spencer Academy

Good

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Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School

Good

location_on Dronfield, S18 2FZ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Derbyshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Derbyshire

St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy

The Ecclesbourne School

John Flamsteed Community School

Lady Manners School

John Port Spencer Academy

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School