Derby/Derbyshire nurturing secondaries?

[lotsofplatesspinning]

Can anyone recommend any secondary schools, ideally on the north side of Derby for moving my son for yr 8 in September please? Realise it'll be about what's available but I'm worried about him having to make the transition when everyone else has had a year to settle already. He's ASD - quite hidden and copes ok in mainstream but sustaining friendships can be a challenge and he is quite vulnerable to bullies because he reacts. Might think we're mad to move him but it's all about trying to depressurise life for him and us - he currently commutes to school, is in an academic private school with the pressure to keep up (incl plenty of homework!), has long days, we're miles from family etc. so accepting we probably got it wrong for his year 7 move and looking to make life a bit simpler and normal for him and us! Could move closer to his current school to take the travel away but moving close to family feels like the better option for all of us - including my 2nd son who will start secondary in Sep 24. State secondaries or private suggestions welcome - but looking to avoid the long days, the academic pressure, the Saturday school etc. and to give him more downtime. Thanks in advance!

Hi op, is he at private school in Nottingham?

Schools in north Derby that I would rate in general include Littlover CS, Landau Forte (central tbh but takes from all over), Woodlands, St Benedict also good tho it’s a faith school if that’s an issue.

Ecclesbourne in Duffield is a v good school but big focus on academics means it’s not for everyone.

Where do you live tho? For most of these schools you need to be close for a yr 7 space so I imagine yr 8 would depend on spaces or WL? Landau has no catchment as such so it’s worth an enquiry.

Derby High? Not particularly academic or pressured and takes quite a few kids at non-standard entry points.

Yes was thinking Derby High (private school) but mostly girls if that’s a concern. Taken boys for ? the last few years.

Thank you both - really helpful. We're down south, in an area that's a like a pressure cooker for schools so a huge move for us but to be honest, one that we've almost done many times but chickened out of too many times...with the result that we put our poor ASD boy through 11+ hell (not feeling guilty or anything 😫), got him into an amazing school but surrounded by mega bright boys, with long days and lots of academic stretch. All he wants is to be near grandparents and to have more space and time for a dog (and all the little one wants is to watch the mighty Rams each week!). Yes, it's going to be WL-dependent. Ecclesbourne definitely has a WL so very unlikely, even though we're likely to look to move into their catchment for the little one. QEGS sounds like it might be possible WL-wise. I'll check on Landau Forte - great shout, as is Derby High (the girl/boy re-balance might actually be good after an all boys school), albeit a journey on the a38 in rush hour! Thank you again - really appreciate it.

Op just to say that if you are hoping for a WL place at Ecclesbourne, first I have no idea how often a place comes up (presume only if someone moves house) and second, I imagine you would need to be as near as possible to the school to be top of the list. That’s not going to be especially easy. Anywhere in catchment will work for ds2 tho.

QEGS is quite a way from Duffield tho I guess if it has a space then great. Transport from Duffield might be a pain tho, unless you can drive ds there.

Not sure how Landau admission works if you are not in Derby city so that’s worth checking if you might be keen.

There are school buses for Derby High if WL isn’t promising

So by way of update, no places at Derby High and not much effort to suggest we join a waiting list or similar. Ecclesbourne WL for DS1’s year means really unlikely plus am not sure it’s the best fit for him albeit the much preferred location. He’s super bright but he can be quite vulnerable so safeguarding and some willingness to individualise will be important. His current school is amongst the top schools in the country academically but he isn’t thriving in that environment and says he would love to feel he is one of the better ones at something! QEGS does have spaces for his year and we can see a Kirk Langley/Muggington/Quarndon (my preference if we can but might not be that easy given demand!) option might work for both boys - one to QEGS and one to Ecclesbourne, with buses directly to both of those from those areas. Is there anything it would be helpful to know about QEGS? My husband went there but that was 30 years ago! Anything we might want to be aware of? Thanks again!

Ecclesbourne has a lot going for it but it’s been rated inadequate due to bullying and safeguarding. With that and its academic reputation (pushiness) it may not be what you are looking for.

Well if QEGS has spaces @lotsofplatesspinning and it's Derbys you want that sounds like a solution.

Kirk Langley probs easiest to Asbourne, also a nice village if you want a village. Mugginton is tiny so I would avoid tbh. Quarndon v posh and easier for teens to get to Derby.

No recent Intel on QEGS tho my old boss's partner teaches there, think they are happy enough.