Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #11 in Derbyshire public Top 17% UK

St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy

verifiedData: DfE & Ofsted 2024/25

personMrs Sarah Lancett (Acting Head of School)

corporate_fareST RALPH SHERWIN CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onBuxton, SK17 6AF

language Visit Website phone 129823167

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

437

trending_up

Attainment 8

49.5

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in Derbyshire

#1,002 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Buxton, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy is an academy converter in Buxton, Derbyshire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ST RALPH SHERWIN CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 419 pupils on roll, of whom 31% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.5, placing the school #10 in Derbyshire and #1,002 of 3,216 nationally. 47.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 19.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

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.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: Department for Education 2024/25, Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.5

Grade 5+ E&M

47.20%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)19.0%

Entering EBacc23.60%

EBacc APS4.1

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.51

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10.00%

EBacc APS3.23

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.10

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS3.56

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26%

EBacc APS4.18

2021

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.36

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

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

98%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 June 2025

Inspection Report

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10 January 2023

Inspection Report

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12 September 2018

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-06-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 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

2023-01-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-05-16

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-12-10

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

2.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.9%(8 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 419 pupils. During this period, there were 11 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.6%, 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)	419	11	2.6%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	418	16	3.8%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	426	16	3.8%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	426	19	4.5%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	422	49	11.6%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	426	17	4.0%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	437	44	10.1%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	443	48	10.8%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	448	17	3.8%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	444	14	3.2%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	447	26	5.8%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	450	9	2.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	450	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	454	6	1.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	444	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	444	5	1.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	443	14	3.2%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	432	4	0.9%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	434	13	3.0%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	431	8	1.9%	3.8%	3

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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 23 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 17 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 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.

82.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

83.0%Positive

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

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree20%

agree53%

disagree14%

strongly disagree9%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree12%

agree51%

disagree26%

strongly disagree9%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree18%

agree30%

disagree12%

strongly disagree16%

don't know1%

not applicable23%

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 agree12%

agree35%

disagree18%

strongly disagree29%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree27%

agree45%

disagree20%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree26%

agree53%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree22%

agree51%

disagree18%

strongly disagree8%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree20%

agree51%

disagree23%

strongly disagree5%

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

strongly agree31%

agree47%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know7%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree23%

agree41%

disagree16%

strongly disagree11%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes77%

no23%

Top Secondary Schools in Derbyshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

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

Outstanding

location_on Chesterfield, S41 8AG

emoji_events #1 in LA

The Ecclesbourne School

Good

location_on Belper, DE56 4GS

emoji_events #2 in LA

John Flamsteed Community School

Good

location_on Ripley, DE5 8NP

emoji_events #3 in LA

Lady Manners School

Good

location_on Bakewell, DE45 1JA

emoji_events #4 in LA

John Port Spencer Academy

Good

location_on Derby, DE65 6LU

emoji_events #5 in LA

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)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

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