Derby High School

• Students age: from 3 to 18 years,
• Location: Bury, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom,
• Founded: in 1959,
• Type of institution: secondary school,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type: joint.

At Derby High School, a comprehensive educational process is practiced. It is an independent, co-educational school that includes academic excellence, personal development, and extracurricular activities.

Here, academic excellence is a priority, the curriculum is designed to challenge students and encourage them to reach their full potential. The school offers a wide range of subjects at GCSE and A-level, including traditional academic subjects. The school provides one-on-one support to students through small class sizes and a personalized approach from teachers. The school has a team of experienced and dedicated professionals who work closely with students to identify their strengths and weaknesses to help achieve their academic goals.

In the building where the preschool program is held, there is always an atmosphere of fun: children can usually be found learning the alphabet, clay modeling, drawing and many other artistic activities.

In primary school, every child is raised in a caring and supportive environment by experienced, dedicated staff. Small classes mean that every child can get the attention and support they need. Purpose-built buildings for young and middle-aged children provide an ideal space for learning, creativity and exploration.  In addition to the main subjects, the school teaches music, French and physical education, and from the fifth grade onwards, drama and science. 

In middle high school, staff will give an 11-year-old the skills and confidence to help him take his first independent steps in 7th grade and become a person who is ready to face the challenges facing him not only in school, but also in everyday life.

The school is known for its focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects and offers a variety of programs and extracurricular activities in these fields.

The school has a long tradition in music and performing arts.

Derby High School has a strong focus on community service and encourages students to participate in volunteer and charitable activities, maintains partnerships with several local organizations and charitable foundations, and students participate in various fundraising and community service projects throughout the year.

Derby High School provides a wide extracurricular program with a wide range of activities and clubs of interest: they are designed to help children explore their interests, develop leadership skills and build relationships with peers and teachers. For example , there is an extensive athletics program, there are teams in football, basketball, volleyball and other sports. These teams compete with other schools in England.

Derby High School has an excellent music program that includes a symphony orchestra, a jazz orchestra, and a choir. There is a theater studio that stages performances and musicals throughout the year, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their acting and even acrobatic skills.

• In the league table of The Sunday Times, the school has been ranked first among independent schools in Derby and the surrounding area in the last 3 years,
• It is the third largest school in Bury, has the best academic performance, quality of teaching and resources,
• The institution has a strong academic program that prepares students for further education and a successful career,
• The school has a well-developed outdoor curriculum that includes activities such as camping, hiking, and rock climbing,
• Studentsare given the opportunity to gain work experience through a program that allows them to gain practical experience in their chosen field and develop employability skills.

Ithas a spacious library with an extensive collection of books, periodicals, scientific papers and online resources. The school has several computer labs equipped with the latest software, which allows students to conduct scientific research and carry out creative projects. In addition to classrooms, Derby has a number of sports and leisure facilities: a large sports hall with a basketball court, an athletics arena and a swimming pool.

• Autumn term: August 31 – December 15,
• Spring term: January 9 – March 28,
• Summer term: April 23 – July 5.

• The first step in the school admissions process is to schedule an elementary school visit. This is a fantastic opportunity for families to see the school on a typical day and get to know the teaching staff and students,
• The next step is to register your child at school. You can do this by submitting a registration form and a £100 registration fee,
• The assessment process in primary school depends on the age of the children. Upon admission to preschool and foster classes, an assessment is made on each child's personal, social, and emotional development and academic readiness at a meeting with one of the early childhood specialist teachers.

For admission to high school, the first step in the admissions process will be to schedule a time for a field trip with the principal: during a private tour of the school, he will tell how students take advantage of a huge range of opportunities, which together develop in them a genuine love of learning. Entrance exams to the 7th grade are held in January of each year: applicants take tests on non-verbal thinking, English and Mathematics. These are nationally standardized tests that students from different schools can take. Candidates are judged not only on their ability to cope with the curriculum offered, but also on their willingness to contribute fully to the life of the school. Candidates will be interviewed informally, provide recommendations from their current school. When applying for a place in grade 7 after the date of the entrance exams, subject to availability, the school will invite the child to the exam.

Subject to availability, students are also admitted to grades 8, 9 and 10, subject to satisfactory academic performance based on the results of certification work. As part of the admission process, students also undergo a short interview with the head of the school, bringing a recommendation from the current school.

Derby High School prides itself on excellent A-Level scores and GCSE exam results. Half of the 2022 graduates received A+ or A grades, 78% of students received grades from A+ to B. High grades secured students places in various highly competitive courses at higher education institutions, most of which are enrolled in Russell Group universities, including Oxbridge. Graduates enter the most prestigious programs: medicine, law, architecture, linguistics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry and psychology.

• For admission to preparatory groups, children must be 3 years of age or older,
• For admission to other groups, students must pass an entrance exam, which includes an assessment in English, mathematics and reasoning,
• Itis required to provide a school certificate, recommendations and interviews with the student and his parents,
• The school takes into account the social and emotional development of the applicant and his potential to contribute to the school community.

Scholarships and awards depend on which program you are applying for. Scholarships can be awarded to students entering grades 7 and grades 11-12, valid for 5 and 2 years, respectively. The possibility of receiving an academic scholarship in the 7th grade is assessed by the results of the entrance examinations for external candidates and by the results of the internal assessment in the 6th grade for the students of the school.

The Lead Student Scholarship may be awarded to someone who has demonstrated outstanding all-round ability. Scholarships for Music, Sports, Drama, Art, and Design are awarded each year in Year 7.

Any benefit will only apply to the basic tuition fee and not to any additional services. Any combination of award and paid seat must not exceed 50% of the full tuition fee.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision