City of Derby Academy Review 2026: A Secondary on an Improvement Journey in Sinfin

“Respectful, Responsible, Ready to Achieve” sits at the heart of day-to-day expectations here, and it is visible in how the academy frames behaviour, routines, and belonging. The most recent graded inspection in March 2024 kept the school at Requires Improvement, while also describing clearer curriculum thinking and stronger behaviour than at the previous visit.

This is an 11 to 16 school with no sixth form, so the core job is getting students through Key Stage 3 and GCSE, then moving them on to the right post-16 destination in Derby and beyond. Daily structure is clear: Breakfast Club runs 08:00 to 08:30, the compulsory day finishes at 15:10, and an Enrichment hour follows until 16:10.

Leadership continuity matters when a school is improving. Adrian Harding is the headteacher, and the academy’s published governance information shows him in post from 23 May 2022.

The academy positions itself as a welcoming school that reflects local diversity, and official inspection evidence supports that sense of inclusion, including the way difference is recognised and celebrated through whole-school activity such as Culture Day.

Expectations are framed in practical language rather than grand statements. The “three Rs” are used as a behavioural shorthand, which can help younger students understand what good conduct looks like in corridors, lessons, and social time. The school’s own communications around inspection outcomes also emphasise respectful relationships and staff availability when students have concerns, signalling that pastoral access is a key part of how the school wants to operate.

The school is part of a wider trust, and that context matters for governance and direction. City of Derby Academy joined QEGSMAT in September 2017, which places improvement work within a multi-academy structure rather than as a standalone school.

Headline outcomes indicate that performance is currently below England average on several measures, with a particular challenge around progress.

GCSE ranking context (FindMySchool ranking based on official data)

Ranked 3707th in England and 19th in Derby for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking). This sits below England average, placing it in the bottom 40% of schools in England for this measure.

On attainment, the academy’s Attainment 8 score is 32.3. Progress is a clearer signal for parents because it reflects how students do compared with peers with similar starting points. Here, Progress 8 is -0.56, which indicates students, on average, made less progress than similar students nationally across a basket of GCSE subjects.

The EBacc picture is also challenging. The average EBacc APS is 2.73, and 2.4% is recorded for achieving grades 5 or above across EBacc subjects. Families should read these figures alongside the school’s documented improvement priorities, particularly around consistency in classroom practice and literacy across subjects.

A useful way to interpret this combination is: outcomes suggest the school is still working to make strong learning consistent across subjects and across year groups. That aligns with improvement priorities identified in the most recent inspection report, including teachers checking what pupils know and remember with enough precision before moving on, and building stronger reading practice across the curriculum.

Parents comparing local options should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and the Comparison Tool to set this data against other Derby secondaries, then sense-check the numbers through open events and conversations with staff.

The curriculum is described in the latest inspection evidence as broad and ambitious, with subject knowledge set out in a more logical sequence than before. That is an important foundation for improvement because it allows departments to teach towards clearer end points, and it makes it easier to identify gaps when students struggle.

The next step, based on the same evidence, is classroom consistency. Where teachers do not check understanding closely enough or do not probe with skilful questioning, students can move on with insecure knowledge, which then shows up later as gaps in recall and application. In practical terms, this is the difference between a lesson that looks calm and purposeful, and a lesson where learning is securely embedded.

Literacy is a second key strand. The inspection evidence points to phonics being implemented for those who need it, and also highlights that opportunities to read widely beyond Year 8 were limited at the time. For families, the implication is clear: if your child is a reluctant reader or arrives with a low reading age, ask specifically how reading is assessed on entry, what interventions look like in Key Stage 3, and how subject teachers support reading in lessons as students move into GCSE content.

With no sixth form on site, post-16 planning is a core part of the school’s job. Official inspection evidence highlights a strong careers programme and structured guidance that helps students understand training routes and options after Year 11, including technical pathways and apprenticeships.

For families, the practical implication is that the right Key Stage 4 pathway matters. Ask how option guidance works in Year 9, how the school supports students who may be suited to a more vocational route post-16, and what the transition support looks like for students moving to sixth forms, colleges, or apprenticeship providers in Derby.

Year 7 applications are coordinated by Derby City Council for Derby residents. For September 2026 entry, the published window runs from 04 September 2025 until 31 October 2025, with the national closing date on 31 October 2025. Offers are issued on National Offer Day, which in 2026 falls on 02 March 2026.

The academy advises parents to apply through the local authority process rather than directly.

If you are considering a move, Derby’s admissions guidance is explicit that the address used is the one at the closing date, with specific rules around changes of address and evidence. This is an area where mistakes can be costly, so treat the paperwork and timing as part of the admissions strategy, not an afterthought.

Pastoral strength is repeatedly signposted through official evidence and school communication: pupils feel safe, relationships between staff and pupils are strong, and students know staff are available if they have concerns.

The most helpful way to interpret this for parents is to separate “care” from “consistency”. The caring ethos can be real while teaching practice still varies across subjects, and a school can have improving behaviour while still working to bring attendance up for a smaller group of students. Inspection evidence indicates that attendance was improving but remained high for some pupils, which usually implies a focused, case-by-case approach with families rather than a quick fix.

When visiting or speaking with staff, ask about the practical mechanisms: who checks in with students daily, how concerns are escalated, and what happens when behaviour slips in the few cases where policy is not applied as closely as intended.

Extracurricular life is where many improving schools build belonging and routines, and City of Derby Academy offers a mix of sport and structured youth development.

On the sports side, published club information includes All Years Football, Dance and Cheerleading, Athletics, Dodgeball, and Cricket, with GCSE PE support also listed.

The practical implication is that students who need a reason to stay after school, build friendships, or burn off energy have several structured options that reinforce attendance and connection.

A distinctive feature is the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Army section. The academy describes this as the only academy in Derbyshire to offer this opportunity, with activities such as drill, fieldcraft, first aid, and target shooting.

For some students, CCF can be a turning point because it provides clear adult role models, visible progression, and a strong sense of responsibility. For others, it will be less relevant, but it remains a notable marker of what the school offers beyond standard clubs.

The published school day structure is detailed and consistent. Breakfast Club runs 08:00 to 08:30, form time and assembly run 08:40 to 09:00, and the compulsory day ends at 15:10, followed by Enrichment until 16:10.

The timetable runs on a two-week cycle, which is common in secondaries that want to balance subject time across the week.

Travel details vary by address and year group, and families should check the local authority’s guidance on travel support where eligibility may apply.

• Outcomes remain a challenge. The Progress 8 score of -0.56 and the England ranking position signal that academic performance is still below where many families would want it. This matters most for students who need high levels of consistency to succeed.

• Literacy is a stated improvement priority. Reading beyond Year 8 and the embedding of phonics-based support were identified as areas to strengthen. Parents of reluctant readers should ask for specifics on assessment, intervention, and reading expectations across subjects.

• Attendance is improving, but not for everyone. Official evidence indicates persistent absence remained high for a smaller group, even as overall work was having a positive impact. If attendance has been a difficulty previously, ask what early help looks like and how quickly support is put in place.

• No sixth form means an earlier transition point. Students will need to move settings at 16. For many this is positive, but it does require earlier planning and strong careers guidance.

City of Derby Academy is best understood as a local secondary with a clear improvement agenda and a strong focus on safety, relationships, and structured routines. The March 2024 inspection evidence points to progress in curriculum design and behaviour, while the performance data shows outcomes still lag behind where the school wants to be.

Who it suits: families in Sinfin and wider Derby seeking a mixed 11 to 16 school where pastoral access and belonging are emphasised, and where students may benefit from structured enrichment such as CCF and after-school sport. The key question for most parents is whether the improving trajectory is translating into consistently strong learning across subjects for students like theirs.

Families interested in this option should use Saved Schools to shortlist it, then compare it directly with nearby Derby secondaries using FindMySchoolMap Search and the Local Hub comparison view.