School profile

Highfields School

Secondary · Academy converter · Matlock, DE4 5NA

Good

Map showing Highfields School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,045 of 3,312

Better than 68% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#1,023 of 2,536

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Highfields School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 26 Sept 2012

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,298
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Andrew Marsh
TrustEAST MIDLANDS EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityDerbyshire
Opened01 Oct 2021
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 148299.

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.49.6, better than England, better than Derbyshire45.246.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.75.4%, better than England, better than Derbyshire64.8%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.50%, better than England, better than Derbyshire44.5%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.18.3%, better than England, better than Derbyshire10.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths69.2%, better than England, better than Derbyshire59.8%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4224--

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 10.35.23, similar to England, better than Derbyshire32.9935
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels35.79, similar to England, similar to Derbyshire34.3435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better18.8%, similar to England, better than Derbyshire15.7%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study116--
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 pupils1,298
Girls674
Boys624
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.24.7%
First language not English3.2%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,266
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25175
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.120
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.37
Average class size23.2

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
92.1%
Other White
2.5%
White and Asian
1.3%
Other mixed
1%
White and Black Caribbean
0.7%
Chinese
0.5%
Other ethnic group
0.5%
White and Black African
0.4%
Irish
0.2%
Other Asian
0.2%

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 teacher17.7
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.7
Teachers (FTE)73.45
Teaching assistants (FTE)15.76
Support staff (FTE)53.82
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2576
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2566.9
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/251
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/258.1

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.214
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.371
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.211
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.211
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)3

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 absence6.5%, better than England, better than Derbyshire8.1%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.12.6%, better than England, better than Derbyshire20.3%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.2.7%, better than England, better than 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 rate10.1%
Pupils with one or more suspensions4.1%
Permanent exclusion rate0.1%
Permanent exclusions1

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.91.7%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.85.4%
School sixth form49%
Further education35.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5.8%
Apprenticeship5.3%
Employment1%
Sixth form college0%

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.92%
Higher education62.8%
Employment20.4%
Apprenticeship7.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.6.2%
Further education0.9%

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 Highfields School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.5 miPrimarySt Joseph's Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.6 miPrimaryCastle View Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.0 miPrimaryAll Saints CofE Infant SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.1 miPrimaryTansley Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.2 miPrimaryAll Saints CofE Junior SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
1.4 miPrimarySt Giles Church of England Primary and Nursery SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about Highfields School

What is Highfields School's Ofsted rating?

Highfields School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 26 Sept 2012.

How does Highfields School rank in England?

Highfields School ranks 1,045 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 68% of schools) and 1,023 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are Highfields School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 50% of pupils at Highfields School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 49.6 (England 46.2).

What are Highfields School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Highfields School was B-, and 18.8% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Highfields School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Highfields School made 214 offers from 371 applications (1.7 per offer), and 211 of 211 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Highfields School?

Highfields School has 1,298 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Highfields School?

Highfields School had 1,266 school places in 2024/25.

Does Highfields School have a sixth form?

Yes, Highfields School has a sixth form with 175 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Highfields School?

At Highfields School, the average class had 23.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 17.7 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Highfields School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Highfields School missed 6.5% of sessions (England 8%), and 12.6% 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.