School profile

The Ripley Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · Ripley, DE5 3JQ

Good

Map showing The Ripley Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,191 of 3,312

Worse than 66% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#2,007 of 2,536

Worse than 79% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Ripley Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 4 Feb 2020

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils920
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMrs Helen Frost-Briggs
TrustEAST MIDLANDS EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityDerbyshire
Opened01 Sept 2014
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 141259.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.42.9, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire45.246.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.63.6%, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire64.8%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.35.8%, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire44.5%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.8.7%, worse than England, similar to Derbyshire10.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths54.3%, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire59.8%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4173--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.28.36, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire32.9935
Average A-level gradeC--
Average points, best three A-levels28.64, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire34.3435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC--
AAB or better7.4%, worse than England, worse than Derbyshire15.7%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.26, worse than England--
A-level progressBelow average, worse than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study61--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist---

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils920
Girls457
Boys463
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.29.8%
First language not English2.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,116
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.17.6%
Sixth form places2024/25168
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.113
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.27
Average class size20.3

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
89.2%
White and Black Caribbean
1.3%
Other Asian
1.3%
Other White
1.2%
Indian
0.9%
African
0.9%
Chinese
0.8%
Other mixed
0.5%
Gypsy/Roma
0.4%
White and Black African
0.3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher14.8
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.6
Teachers (FTE)62.34
Teaching assistants (FTE)15.04
Support staff (FTE)43.48
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2554.3
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2550.7
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/251.6

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.149
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.222
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.149
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.149
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolDerbyshireEngland
Overall absence8.1%, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire8.1%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.20.9%, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire20.3%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.3%, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire3.7%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate9.7%
Pupils with one or more suspensions5.2%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.90.4%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.76.8%
Further education44.8%
School sixth form28.8%
Apprenticeship11.2%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5.6%
Sixth form college3.2%
Employment2.4%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.87.9%
Higher education34.8%
Employment34.8%
Apprenticeship15.2%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.6%
Further education3%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Ripley Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.4 miPrimaryRipley St John's Church of England Primary School and NurseryVoluntary controlled school
Good
0.4 miPrimaryWaingroves Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryCodnor Community Primary School Church of England ControlledVoluntary controlled school
Requires improvement
0.8 miPrimaryRipley Junior SchoolAcademy converter
Unrated
0.8 miPrimaryRipley Infant SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miNurseryRipley Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school
Good
1.0 miPrimaryLons Infant SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.7 miPrimaryLoscoe CofE Primary School and NurseryAcademy converter
Good
1.7 miPrimaryStreet Lane Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Ripley Academy

What is The Ripley Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Ripley Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 4 Feb 2020.

How does The Ripley Academy rank in England?

The Ripley Academy ranks 2,191 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 66% of schools) and 2,007 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 79% of schools).

What are The Ripley Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 35.8% of pupils at The Ripley Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 42.9 (England 46.2).

What are The Ripley Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Ripley Academy was C, and 7.4% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Ripley Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Ripley Academy made 149 offers from 222 applications (1.5 per offer), and 149 of 149 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Ripley Academy?

The Ripley Academy has 920 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Ripley Academy?

The Ripley Academy had 1,116 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Ripley Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, The Ripley Academy has a sixth form with 168 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Ripley Academy?

At The Ripley Academy, the average class had 20.3 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 14.8 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Ripley Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Ripley Academy missed 8.1% of sessions (England 8%), and 20.9% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.