Secondary Schools in Derby

[EllieMay2011]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any reviews on the schools below in Derby:
Chellaston Academy
Murray Park
Derby Moor

We are thinking of moving area and not sure about the schools. We would move either to Chellaston or Mickleover/Littleover.

Many Thanks :-)

[clary]

Chellaston gets very good results and is highly rated, but had a bad Ofsted over safeguarding issues, so look at that. Bit of an exam factory imo, kids are smart tho.

Murray Park has a bad rep but a new head who is keen on pr. Not the best. A mate of DDs got great GCSEs there but speaks ill of the school.

Derby Moor I would avoid if poss, all kinds of issues.

I worked at DM and did some training time at Chellaston.

Best school in the area you are looking at is certainly Littleover CS, any reason you are not considering it?

[EllieMay2011]

No reason really for Littleover just thought it would be difficult to get in to. We have all sorts of problems in the past with regards to getting in a school in the area sue to catchment and not living in the correct district i.e. Derby City/Southern Derbyshire hence why the move....
It's such a difficult decision to make...unless I'm over thinking it...

[BiBabbles]

I think it's both a tough decision and easy to overthink this.

Derby schools are all over the place with reviews and results. For every story of 'definitely not X', there are other stories of how it's better than people say (usually after having had a worse time elsewhere), and for every 'this top school is amazing', there are reports of poor pastoral care and less able kids getting pushed out.

Plus, there is the newer non-catchment secondary Derby Cathedral School whose reputation is even more all over the place, but generally 'it was great before lockdown, but teething/all the issues since the new head took over'. I seriously don't know a secondary in Derby that hasn't had some sort of reputation issue or stories of people pulling their kids. Even Outstanding Littleover CS, while significant less than many others, has had some buzz about it.

[Icanflyhigh]

Both of my DDs are at Chellaston Academy, I went there in the 90s.

Its a huge school now and catchment is ridiculous. If you want to be guaranteed a place at Chellaston, you need to look at old Chellaston, Aston, Weston, Melbourne, Barrow on Trent or Ticknall - anywhere else and you'll likely be directed to Noel Baker or Merrill Academy. Even the Fellowlands way and Bonnie Prince estates in Chellaston, are not guaranteed places at the local school.

Chellaston has its issues, they had a teacher arrested and charged for grooming and underage sex last year, bullying is rife and they change the uniform policies almost daily it seems.

It used to be a great school, but as its got bigger and become an academy, it isn't what it used to be.

They do try hard I think, sometimes too hard, and they have the potential to be excellent again with their newly appointed head teacher.

I would choose Chellaston over Merrill and Noel Baker, but potentially not over Littleover, which remains an excellent school.

[Icanflyhigh]

I also don't rate Murray Park and definitely not Derby Moor (I have worked in all the secondaries in Derby City at one point or another in various roles) so speak from experience.

[clary]

Yy deffo Chello over Merrill or NB. If you are in LCS catchment you should get in OK OP.

[Icanflyhigh]

Haha @Clary you're definitely a local when Chello is the abbreviation ;-)

I worked for Children and Young People Services in Derby Moor and Littleover CS, Merrill, Noel Baker, and Da Vinci

I've delivered training in Murray Park, West Park, Landau Forte, Leesbrook and St Ben's too.

West Park is highly recommended too now, a great school by all accounts.

[clary]

@Icanflyhigh 😂😂

[EllieMay2011]

Thank you for all your feedback, certainly have a lot to think about....