The de Ferrers Academy

The de Ferrers Academy is performing well overall, maintaining a Good rating across all evaluated areas. The school has a committed staff who work collaboratively towards improving educational outcomes and maintaining high behaviour standards among students. Notable strengths include a revitalized curriculum that effectively outlines learning objectives and promotes collaborative teaching strategies, particularly in mathematics. Furthermore, the sixth form is highlighted as a strong aspect of the school, with students actively participating in the community and receiving dedicated support from teachers.

Strengths

• Strong leadership with a clear vision
• Collaborative approach among staff to improve teaching
• Effective curriculum design outlining key knowledge
• Positive behaviour management resulting in focused learning
• Strong sixth form provision with active community engagement
• Robust support for pupils with special educational needs
• Prioritization of reading and engagement in literacy programs
• Comprehensive personal development and tutor programs

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent assessment practices among some teachers
• A small number of pupils struggle with behaviour management
• Lack of clarity among some parents and pupils regarding the school's vision and actions

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The de Ferrers Academy attended 92.0% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 22.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 5.8% of pupils at The de Ferrers Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 5 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The de Ferrers Academy had 20.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 11.3% of pupils at The de Ferrers Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The de Ferrers Academy received £7,270 and spent £6,830 for each of its 2,440 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,608,000 (£1,069 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Affinity Learning Partnership, income was £7,699 and spending £7,452 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Burton-On-Trent · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

The de Ferrers Academy is part of Affinity Learning Partnership, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Eton Park Junior Academy Burton-On-Trent
• Horninglow Primary School Burton-On-Trent
• Lansdowne Infant Academy Burton-On-Trent
• Richard Wakefield CofE Primary Academy Burton-On-Trent
• The Pingle Academy Swadlincote
• Granville Academy Swadlincote

What is The de Ferrers Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The de Ferrers Academy is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was The de Ferrers Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The de Ferrers Academy was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does The de Ferrers Academy have?

The de Ferrers Academy has 2,403 pupils on roll.

What age range does The de Ferrers Academy cover?

The de Ferrers Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The de Ferrers Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 46.7, and 48% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The de Ferrers Academy?

The de Ferrers Academy is at St Mary's Drive, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0LL.