Ecclesbourne school

Indeed, I think some of them may have been resting on their laurels as they have good outcomes.

The backlash from the Ecclesbourne parents/community has been interesting in itself. Parents are saying it's down to a group of trouble making pupils who have overplayed personal grievances whilst the school has released a letter which in essence says they don't don't agree with the judgement. Doesn't sound as though anyone wants to meaningfully address the issues raised which is a worry...

I think academic standards are still very high, but not so much safeguarding, which is a worry.

It does seem that the traditionally good schools in derby are struggling while the ones in not so affluent areas are thriving.

Gosh that's a bit of a shocker! Wonder if people are still going to be fighting for places this year?

Oh wow I stand corrected and I beg your pardon @MBean they should update their website as well! :O sums it up.

Just shows, if you are going to have Ofsted, inspections should be more regular

www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/top-derbyshire-secondary-school-rated-7604267

I don't think that's the case @MBean , do you have a link?

Ecclesbourne have now been rated as inadequate by Ofsted.

Yeah Ecclesbourne are hot on people renting and owning as well as happens year after year as the catchment houses are getting so expensive. Its not like a private school where you can apply for a bursary etc its in catchment or not I am afraid.

@DosVeces if you ask on the generalised secondary education part there are a few great admissions experts who can help. Sadly from reading their advice for years your situation wouldn’t count as far as I’m aware

it’s always handy though to look how far you are from the actual defined catchment boundary as it runs a long way in some directions and you may just get lucky

Thank you @Tomnooktoldmeto I did see the policy, and understand how it works. It also says that special circumstances can be explained. Our intentions is to ultimately buy and live in the area, as we work around there. I was after comments from people that perhaps had a similar situation, but perhaps I will call admissions and ask the question directly. Thanks again.

@DosVeces it is against admission rules to own in one area and rent in another purely to gain admission. The local authority are quite hot on this, if caught they can and do rescind places.

Please don’t do this to your child and family, there are lots of ways you can help your child out of school and if they really are bright they should do well in most schools

Thinking of the future, your child may well receive contextual offers for University if your local school has a lower number of students accessing higher education. They wouldn’t if they attend Ecclesbourne

You don’t say where your catchment school is, have you looked at it’s results or considered Landau Forte which casts a wider next and achieves good results

Hello,
I am after some experience with Ecclesbourne admissions. We have the opposite situation as one that was mentioned on this post. My son is very academic and I struggle to continue to challenge him. He is in an below average performance primary school, but he does a lot of off-school studying. Coding, Science, Piano, Maths, and other things. I can't afford to buy a house in the catchment area in Ecclesbourne, not this year. We own our little house, and it has a healthy equity, but it needs a lot of repair. I have been saving, and was hoping to borrow more in our mortgage to repair and/or buy another house this year, but the bank has replied this week, and it is a no for us. No, for the amount we need. Try next year! We may still be able to rent in the catchment area, but after reading their admission policy, I am worried that I will put myself back economically by renting for a year or so, only to be refused a place in Ecclesbourne School. So, the situation is: If we rent, our little house will be under repairs, but it will still be in our name. How likely is admissions to offer my son a place? I wish they can talk to him, he will probably be more eloquent than me.

Thank you for the comments. Moving to Derby and looking at a number of areas, including Allestree, for housing with good primary and secondary schools.

New head but it's hard to say as my last DC left Woodlands last year after a very fragmented sixth form (like everyone's) - so the new head has had a hard time making an impact. I am sure things are moving now tho. DS2 really rated maths and biology teaching (2 of his A levels).

Agree Ecclesbourne worth applying to if you think it will suit your DC. Remember you have to get there tho - quite a trek from some bits of Allestree to the A6 for the bus.

Hi Scotty, yes it has improved but if you’re in Allestree Ecclesbourne is still always worth applying to

Allestree Woodlands was rated needs improvement. Does anyone know please if it has improved.

I'm sure that's true, but in that case the school should update its website as it shows the area in catchment, so that's pretty useless for parents who want to find out. Especially as the house builder is lying.

When I discussed the golden triangle it was to indicate that the area to that side of Duffield is a much safer bet than the side towards Belper

I love Belper but there is a problem in the school and some areas of the town with gangs and I wouldn’t send my child there never mind their results!

You would also be at risk of being pushed out when the new estates being built in catchment cause issues in the next 2-5 years

Also Clary you are absolutely wrong, Kedleston grange is categorically not in catchment, when they re- drew the boundary we as current parents were emailed about it and it caused a lot of anger in Allestree as once again Amber valley did a number on Derby city over facilities

I agree QEGS is sought-after, never heard that about AG tho. It's a very small school (about 600) if you like that idea

I know someone who teaches at QEGS who is becoming increasingly frustrated with various issues and thinks the school is not doing the best by the students. It is popular but not in an Ecclesbourne catchment way... I guess bc some of Derby is in Ecc catchment and some not, but really anywhere near Ashbourne and you are in QEGS.

@Moonfields QUEGS and Anthony Gel are both highly sought after hence the golden triangle

As your DC is sporty and into Drama they would really enjoy Ecclesbourne as both are highly developed at the school, there are even current Olympic alumni

My friend’s DC were at Belper (left recently) and whilst their DC was happy there, they weren’t over-impressed with the academics. It is difficult to judge a child’s real potential but in early years they were as bright as my DC and had lots of parental support but didn’t achieve the same academic level. I get the impression that the school didn’t have high expectations of the kids so the kids just didn’t do as well as they might. My friends think at a different school their DC would have achieved better results. However just having a happy child is an achievement these days!

hmmmm three beds needs work in Little Eaton, nit especially rural tho
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106382645#/

Kirk Langley farmhouse, rural, looks a tho it's falling down
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108489317#/

Might be better giving up on the rural dream and living in duffiekd itself op.
Incidentally the school's own catchment map includes the area of the Kedkeston Grante estate. No houses on the image tho.

Ecclesbourne re-drew it’s catchment 5 years ago to deliberately exclude the estate being built on the boundary of Allestree

It’s going to be very interesting in the next few years as the Langley estate on Radbourne Lane IS in catchment and the extra numbers will undoubtedly cause a push back on kids in Allestree/Belper getting in and then there is the threat of redrawing once again and removing Allestree and Darley Abbey which has been threatened for decades

If this happens there will be a push back in the city as many inner city kids travel to Woodlands and they will be pushed out by the Allestree kids Currently going to Ecclesbourne

As for the school it’s self I’ve found them on the whole very supportive with DS and as we head to the end of his time there I know it was the best school for him compared with Woodlands

Op if you’re looking for country side and space study the map of the catchment area, keep towards the golden triangle side of Ashbourne QUEGS Wirksworth Anthony Gel and Duffield and you can’t go wrong