David Nieper Academy Review 2026: Employer-linked secondary with an improving inspection profile

A school built around two ideas that matter to many Derbyshire families, steady routines and real-world preparation. David Nieper Academy sits on a long-established Alfreton site that traces its modern story back to 1939, and it still carries visible reminders of earlier eras in named spaces such as the Mortimer Wilson Sports Hall and the Wilfred Dawes Memorial Garden.

Leadership is current and clearly defined. Mr Richard White became Headteacher in September 2023, after serving as Deputy Headteacher from September 2018.

The latest Ofsted inspection (27 and 28 September 2022) judged the school Good overall, with Good grades across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Costs to plan for are the usual secondary-school extras, uniform, transport, trips, and optional activities.

Purposeful is the simplest description, with a strong emphasis on what daily expectations look like in practice. The inspection evidence describes students as happy and proud to attend, and it points to calm corridors and clear routines that support learning.

The school’s identity is tightly linked to employability and enterprise. “Enterprise Week” is not a one-off marketing label; it appears repeatedly across school communications and is reflected in a wider push towards employer engagement, careers education, and skills development.

There is also a distinctive local story behind the academy’s sponsorship. The school explains its connection with David Nieper Ltd as a long-standing Alfreton employer, and frames the partnership as part of why facilities and employer links feature so strongly in the student experience.

The academy sits within the Christopher Nieper Education Trust, and that trust context matters because it shapes admissions authority, governance, and sixth form entry arrangements.

The published performance picture is mixed, with clearer strength in some areas than others.

GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking and metrics)

Ranked 3,412nd in England and 4th in Alfreton for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

Attainment 8 is 38.2. Progress 8 is -0.55, which indicates students, on average, made less progress than similar students nationally from their starting points. EBacc average point score is 3.08, compared with an England figure of 4.08.

It is important to interpret this in context. A negative Progress 8 score is a clear signal that a student who arrives “on track” at the end of primary is less likely to leave with the grades their prior attainment suggests they could reach. For some families, that becomes a key question to explore, what the school is doing now, subject-by-subject, to make teaching more consistent and to close learning gaps early.

A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking and metrics)

Ranked 2,492nd in England and 2nd in Alfreton for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

At A-level, 13.33% of grades were at A* to B, compared with an England figure of 47.2%. 6.67% of grades were A, and 0% were A*.

For families considering sixth form, this gap against England averages is significant. It does not mean students cannot do well, but it does place a premium on choosing the right pathway, meeting entry requirements, attending consistently, and making full use of academic support.

The curriculum model is structured to move students into qualifications relatively early. The school states that students follow a two-year Key Stage 3 and a three-year Key Stage 4, which signals an intent to provide additional time for GCSE courses and exam readiness.

Literacy is positioned as a practical priority rather than a bolt-on. The school references a literacy programme using Accelerated Reader at least weekly, and also describes an end-of-day enrichment lesson that can be used for independent study and “own work”.

Teaching quality, according to the most recent inspection report, is generally secure, with most teachers presenting subject matter clearly and using assessment to identify misconceptions and address gaps. The same evidence also points to inconsistency in some subjects, including occasions where teaching moves on before students have secured understanding.

For parents, the practical implication is that the experience can vary between departments. Asking detailed questions at open evening about how the school supports consistency, for example through shared curriculum resources, lesson routines, and subject leader monitoring, is worthwhile.

Where Students Go Next

Destinations data for the 2023 to 2024 leaver cohort shows a broadly “two-track” picture. 40% progressed to university, while 34% moved into employment. (Other destination categories are recorded as 0%.) This suggests that the school’s employability emphasis aligns with real outcomes for a meaningful proportion of students. It also indicates that university progression is part of the picture, but not the only pathway.

The school’s wider messaging reinforces this, with a strong focus on careers education, employer engagement, and enterprise activity as structured parts of school life.

Where this matters most is in the sixth form. The offer includes both A-level and Level 3 BTEC routes, and the admissions policy sets clear minimum entry requirements. For students who are motivated by a practical career route, this blend can be a good match, particularly when combined with guidance that helps students choose appropriate post-18 steps.

Families comparing local sixth forms should use FindMySchool’s Local Hub comparison tools to view GCSE and A-level performance side-by-side, then sense-check those numbers against subjects your child actually intends to take.

Year 7 entry (September 2026)

Derbyshire secondary applications for September 2026 entry opened 8 September 2025 and closed 31 October 2025.

The academy’s admissions page also reinforces the 31 October deadline and states a Published Admission Number of 155 for the 2025 to 2026 intake, with oversubscription criteria applied if applications exceed places.

Oversubscription criteria follow a typical state-school hierarchy, including priority for looked-after children, and then structured priority around living in the normal area, siblings, and distance. Distance measurement is described as a straight-line approach using the local authority’s Geographic Information System methodology, measured from home to the school’s gate or entrance point.

Because distance and “normal area” questions can be difficult to interpret from policy language alone, families usually benefit from checking exact home-to-gate distance using a mapping tool such as FindMySchoolMap Search, then comparing that with historical offer patterns where available.

Sixth form entry (Year 12)

The sixth form is positioned as relatively small, with the website stating it can admit up to 50 students into Year 12.

The governing admissions policy (approved Summer 2025) sets the minimum entry criteria as at least five GCSE passes at grade 4 or above, including grade 4 in Maths and English, with higher subject-specific thresholds for certain courses (for example, grade 6 in GCSE Maths for A-level Mathematics).

The same policy sets a Published Admission Number of 10 for external Year 12 admissions for 2025 to 2026, while internal applicants who meet requirements are accepted.

Key dates can vary year to year. For Year 7 entry, Derbyshire publishes dates clearly. For sixth form, the policy references applications received before 31 October 2025 (for the 2025 to 2026 cycle), so families planning later entry should treat October as the key deadline month, and confirm the current year’s dates directly with the school.

Pastoral strength is a repeated theme in the most recent inspection evidence, with staff knowing students well and routines designed to support positive behaviour. The report also confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective, and described a culture of vigilance and care with staff trained to recognise concerns and act quickly.

Support for vulnerable learners, including students with special educational needs and/or disabilities, is identified as a strength, with a team of trained teaching assistants and staff guidance to support students in class.

The most useful parent-facing question is how the school joins up its pastoral systems with academic catch-up, especially given the Progress 8 picture. The best support tends to be specific, early identification of gaps, targeted interventions, and consistent follow-through.

Extracurricular life is a clear identity point, and it is framed as a lever for confidence and skills, not just fun. The school describes offering a high volume of clubs across the year, with examples ranging from archaeology club and samba band to Dungeons and Dragons and indoor hockey.

Enterprise and employability activity is embedded. Students participate in Enterprise Week across year groups, alongside employer partner challenges, which can be particularly motivating for students who learn best when work feels applied rather than abstract.

Trips and enrichment appear to be used deliberately to widen horizons. The school references trips to London as an entitlement-style experience, and also points to residential opportunities including Wales, Italy, and Norway.

For students considering Duke of Edinburgh Award, the school also provides detailed trip and programme information that frames the award around resilience, volunteering, and expedition experience.

The academy day runs from 08:40 to 15:30 Monday to Thursday, with an early finish of 14:50 on Friday.

Transport information is presented in general terms, with reference to local bus and rail options and school transport providers. Families who intend to drive should note that the school asks parents and carers not to use the academy drive at the start and end of the day, with gates closed at those peak times for safety.

• GCSE progress is below average. A Progress 8 score of -0.55 indicates students, on average, make less progress than peers with similar starting points. This is a key metric to discuss in detail at open evening, particularly for the subjects your child is likely to take.

• A-level outcomes are currently well below England averages. Only 13.33% of A-level grades are at A to B*, against an England figure of 47.2%. Sixth form can still be a good fit for the right student, but it places a premium on strong GCSE foundations, attendance, and choosing an appropriate programme.

• Sixth form places for external applicants can be limited. The admissions policy sets an external Year 12 PAN of 10 for 2025 to 2026. Students applying from other schools should take deadlines seriously and have a clear Plan B.

• Teaching consistency varies by subject. The inspection evidence highlights that some curriculum areas are not implemented consistently well, and some teaching can move on before understanding is secure. Families should ask how this is being addressed at department level.

David Nieper Academy has a clearly defined identity, calm routines, and a strong employability thread that runs through curriculum, enrichment, and destinations. The inspection picture is stable at Good, and students appear to benefit from strong pastoral structures and a wide menu of clubs and enterprise activity.

It best suits families seeking a structured, community-rooted secondary where applied learning and future employability are taken seriously, and where students will engage with enrichment as part of building confidence. The main decision point is academic outcomes, particularly Progress 8 and A-level performance, and whether the school’s current improvement work aligns with your child’s needs and learning style.