School Chooser

Derby Moor Spencer Academy

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,740 pupilsSixth formDerby
School Chooser Score
56
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 46 to 65
Out of 100. Better than 62% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodConfirmed by Ofsted, June 2022
Strong pass in English and maths48%England 46%
Attendance92.5%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families43%Far more than most schools
PlacesFull1,740 pupils, 1,575 places
Pupils per teacher17.6School workforce census

Derby Moor Spencer Academy is a converter academy in Derby for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,740 pupils, 165 more than it has places for. About 43 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 56 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 62% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Moorway Lane, Littleover, Derby, DE23 2FS01332 772706derbymoorspencer.org.ukMr Scott Doyle principalAll details

What Ofsted found

A shorter visit on 9 June 2022 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.

This inspection is more than 4 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

291 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score47.7
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths48%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths65%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.06In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 45.045.020182019: 47.247.220192022: 47.847.820222023: 45.745.720232024: 44.144.120242025: 47.747.72025
Since 2018: +2.7Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018†DerbyEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11291296262261245246
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 847.744.145.747.847.245.042.746.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.06+0.21+0.25+0.26+0.00
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths48%40%42%46%47%42%38%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths65%64%60%70%67%61%59%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score4.454.164.164.444.144.043.734.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry50%54%48%52%29%57%33%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged41.436.940.744.440.639.4
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged50.646.547.748.950.848.5
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers29.325.734.727.828.5
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers60.466.964.362.560.0

† These results are for Derby Moor Community Sports College, the school this one replaced in January 2018. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Subjects

Results came out for 19 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Spanish93%grades 9 to 5, England 54% · 53rd of 1,941 schools
French95%grades 9 to 5, England 60% · 97th of 1,974 schools
Biology98%grades 9 to 5, England 82% · 427th of 2,570 schools
Chemistry97%grades 9 to 5, England 81% · 675th of 2,537 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Design & Technology (33% here, 50% across England), Business (35% here, 51% across England), Media / Film / TV (41% here, 55% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages, computer science.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics290 entries · 5th of 16 in Derby
53%England 53%
English Literature290 entries · 8th of 16 in Derby
49%England 58%
English Language290 entries · 5th of 16 in Derby
54%England 54%
Combined Science232 entries · 4th of 16 in Derby
38%England 36%
History168 entries · 5th of 15 in Derby
51%England 52%
Geography119 entries · 6th of 15 in Derby
45%England 51%
Business88 entries · 6th of 10 in Derby
35%England 51%
Other Modern Languages85 entries · 2nd of 3 in Derby
74%England 49%
Social Studies62 entries · 4th of 5 in Derby
55%England 54%
Design & Technology60 entries · 9th of 11 in Derby
33%England 50%
Biology58 entries · 1st of 14 in Derby
98%England 82%
Chemistry57 entries · 3rd of 14 in Derby
97%England 81%
Physics57 entries · 4th of 14 in Derby
91%England 82%
Art and Design38 entries · 8th of 15 in Derby
53%England 58%
French37 entries · 1st of 9 in Derby
95%England 60%
Spanish29 entries · 1st of 7 in Derby
93%England 54%
Computer Science20 entries · 3rd of 10 in Derby
65%England 56%
41%England 55%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics29018%53%70%53%1,413 of 3,211
English Literature29012%49%68%58%2,086 of 3,202
English Language29016%54%71%54%1,414 of 3,210
Combined Science2327%38%60%36%1,239 of 3,084
History16825%51%63%52%1,555 of 3,126
Geography11921%45%54%51%1,770 of 3,116
Business8810%35%51%51%1,330 of 1,806
Other Modern Languages8538%74%85%49%153 of 454
Social Studies6219%55%73%54%488 of 1,043
Design & Technology6013%33%42%50%1,075 of 1,478
Biology5852%98%98%82%427 of 2,570
Chemistry5760%97%100%81%675 of 2,537
Physics5740%91%98%82%1,028 of 2,546
Art and Design3826%53%66%58%1,712 of 2,818
French3738%95%97%60%97 of 1,974
Spanish2952%93%97%54%53 of 1,941
Computer Science2025%65%95%56%627 of 1,861
Media / Film / TV1718%41%59%55%
Drama90%33%44%60%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

117 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+34.7 points per entry
A level progress+0.12Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better17%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished97%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure20252024202320222019
Students11712897130205
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry34.6735.4236.3733.5124.31
Average A level gradeC+B-B-C+D+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS36.5536.8238.7434.3024.83
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects17%17%25%11%3%
A level progressA level value added+0.12+0.17-0.19
Applied general courses: points per entry33.4034.0038.5337.91
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed97%96%96%97%99%

A level subjects

12 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Sociology77%A* to B, England 49% · 22 entries
Business Studies63%A* to B, England 47% · 19 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics32Chemistry30Biology27Psychology26Sociology22Business Studies19Design and Technology (Product Design)13History12Geography12Physics10English Language7Religious Studies5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics32 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
47%England 60%
Chemistry30 entries · 27% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 53%
Biology27 entries · 15% A* or A · 100% passed
37%England 49%
Psychology26 entries · 19% A* or A · 100% passed
39%England 46%
Sociology22 entries · 32% A* or A · 100% passed
77%England 49%
Business Studies19 entries · 21% A* or A · 100% passed
63%England 47%
Design and Technology (Product Design)13 entries · 8% A* or A · 100% passed
23%England 38%
History12 entries · 8% A* or A · 100% passed
58%England 55%
Geography12 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
58%England 51%
Physics10 entries · 30% A* or A · 80% passed
30%England 51%
English Language7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
29%England 44%
Religious Studies5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 50%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
41.450.6
Gap 9.2England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
33%55%
Gap 21 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
47.747.6
Gap 0.1England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

Nearly full1,702 pupils for 1,745 places, 2024/25
98% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have grown by 4% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Derby council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,740Census January 2026
Places1,575110% full
Pupils from low-income families39%43% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English40%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support5%82 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%46 pupils with a plan
Average class size21.464 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils3%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)43%£690,800 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls871 / 869
White British pupils17%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (43), Autistic spectrum disorder (24), Moderate learning difficulty (15), Physical disability (11), Specific learning difficulty (10), language and communications needs (7).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,7401,7091,7211,6801,6401,591
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals39%34%29%26%22%21%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language40%43%48%34%37%37%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support10%9%9%8%6%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%3%3%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 92.5% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance92.5%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school23.4%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils11.92024/25, 4 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.9%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence7.5%8.1%9.2%7.7%5.4%4.8%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.5%4.4%5.6%5.3%3.5%2.9%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.9%3.6%3.6%2.5%1.9%1.9%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence23.4%25.0%30.3%24.4%13.5%11.1%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate11.98.17.04.611.3
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions40021

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 262 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training89%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 89%, compared with 89% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training89%87%94%95%
Education85%81%89%92%
Apprenticeship3%3%2%1%
Work1%3%2%3%
Not in education, work or training5%9%6%4%

After sixth form

Where the 94 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training83%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 90%, compared with 81% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training84%England 72%
Top-third universities19%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship6%England 6%
Higher technical course2%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 89% went on to degree-level study or training and 22% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training83%89%96%
Education67%75%71%
Apprenticeship6%2%2%1%
Work10%11%22%
Not in education, work or training12%9%3%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers99.1full-time equivalent, 112 people
Pupils per teacher17.6Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers97%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants28.6full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£51,411
Teachers who left in the year13%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies1
Sick days per teacher5.22024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,998England £7,965. Total £12m
Income per pupil£7,617England £8,423. Total £13m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,945England £4,444
Money in reserve35%A lot put by: £4.5m, £2,656 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£1.1mit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,998spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m17812 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate59 per 1,000 people35% lower than the England average
Nearest bus stop140 mDerby Moor School, 5 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Littleover Community SchoolCouncil870 m1,828Good 202280Compare
The Bemrose SchoolFoundation1.6 miles1,429Good 202423Compare
City of Derby AcademyAcademy1.7 miles925Requires improvement 20243Compare
Murray Park Community SchoolFoundation1.7 miles1,277Good 202237Compare
Derby Cathedral SchoolFree school2.0 miles1,159Good 202332Compare
UTC Derby Pride ParkUniversity technical college2.6 miles534Good 202333Compare
Landau Forte CollegeAcademy2.8 miles1,272Outstanding 202489Compare
Alvaston Moor AcademyAcademy3.0 miles851Requires improvement 20233Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Derby Moor Spencer Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats62%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 56 is 13 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 3 · middle 43 · highest 95100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 56 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 56% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 46 to 65. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%in line
-0.02
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 291 pupils
Ofsted inspection17% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 4.3 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.03
DfE progress measure; 291 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.04
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
+0.03
2024/25; 1,507 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%above
+0.05
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 291 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.02
262 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Derby Moor Spencer Academy a good school?

It is about average. Derby Moor Spencer Academy scores 56 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 62% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 46 to 65, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Derby Moor Spencer Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Derby Moor Spencer Academy good at its last full inspection on 9 June 2022. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.

How good are Derby Moor Spencer Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 48% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 47.7, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Derby Moor Spencer Academy have?

1,740 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,575 places, so it is 110% full.

Is Derby Moor Spencer Academy oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at Derby Moor Spencer Academy?

Pupils were in school 92.5% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 23% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Derby Moor Spencer Academy?

The average class had 21.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 3% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Derby Moor Spencer Academy have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C+. 12 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Moorway Lane, Littleover, Derby, DE23 2FS
Telephone
01332 772706
Website
derbymoorspencer.org.uk
Principal
Mr Scott Doyle
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
The Spencer Academies Trust (27 schools)
Local authority
Derby
Ward
Blagreaves
Constituency
Derby South
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 January 2018 (academy converter)
URN
145327 · LAESTAB 8314178 · UKPRN 10066363
Formerly
Derby Moor Community Sports College

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from