ADMISSIONS
The Next Steps
Please contact our Admissions Manager, on 01332 514267, email admissions@derbyhigh.derby.sch.uk, or complete the enquiry form below to receive more information.
We understand that choosing a Derby High education for your child is one of the most important investments you will ever make. Please get in touch for further details so we can tailor your enquiry and guide you through the key steps to join our school.
ENQUIRY FORM
Admissions Information
During your tour you will meet our Head, Mrs Amy Chapman, and Head of Primary, Mr Jeremy Harper. Mr Harper will give you a guided tour of our Infant and Junior classrooms, along with the onsite sport facilities and outdoor space. This provides a fantastic opportunity for families to see the school during a normal day and meet teaching staff and pupils.
Alternatively, you may wish to attend our next Primary Open Morning on Saturday 13th March 2027. This will be an informal morning, full of fun activities for children to enjoy, whilst giving families the opportunities to look around our Primary School.
If your child is aged 2 to 4 years old they are most welcome to join the Derby High Little Learners Club. The club runs free Stay and Play sessions every Friday morning (term time) from 9am to 10:30am. Parents and children are warmly invited to join the Pre-School staff for fun, activity based learning, phonics and a story. All activities are tailored to the Early Years Foundation Stage. If you are considering Derby High School for your child this is a great way to experience our early years provision and meet our team of dedicated teaching staff.
The next stage is to register your child with us. You can do this by returning the registration form and registration fee (currently £120 Inc VAT) to our Admissions Manager.
The Primary assessment process varies according to the age of the children.
For Pre-School and Reception entry, assessment is made on each child’s personal, social and emotional development and academic readiness through a 1:1 meeting with the one of our Early Years specialist teachers.
For infant children in Years 1 and 2 it becomes more curriculum focused with assessments made on the core subjects of English and Maths alongside logic, problem solving and reasoning activities which allows us to see each child’s academic potential and learning styles.
In Juniors (Years 3-6) the format becomes increasingly formal, in fitting with each child’s age and stage of development, with assessments again in the core subjects of English and Maths alongside logic, problem solving and reasoning activities.
We appreciate each child’s learning will be different and may have been impacted by recent events. We therefore work with each child to see how best we can support them to reach their potential in the weeks, terms and years that follow.
Throughout the admissions process our Admissions Manager is on hand to answer any questions. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our Primary School.
On your private tour around our school, Mrs Chapman will explain how our students benefit from a huge range of opportunities that combine to ignite a genuine joy in learning.
Private tours are available throughout the week, and we would be delighted to show you around our school.
Our Entrance Examination for Year 7 takes place towards the end of our Autumn term. Applicants sit tests in verbal, non-verbal reasoning, English and Mathematics. These are nationally standardised tests and are intended to be taken by pupils who come from a variety of school backgrounds. Applicants are assessed not only on their ability to cope with the curriculum on offer but also on their willingness to make a full contribution to the life of the school. Candidates will have an informal interview and we will request a reference from their current school. If you apply for a Year 7 place after the Entrance Examination date, places may become available for suitable candidates, and we will invite the child for an Assessment Day.
Girls and boys who are already in our Junior School are regularly assessed and are generally able to take their place in our Senior School without taking the Entrance Exam.
Provided that spaces are available, students are also accepted into Years 8, 9 and 10 subject to a satisfactory performance on assessment papers. As part of the admissions process, students will also have a short interview with the Head and we request a reference from their current school. All prospective students are offered a taster day with their peers.
Academic, Music, Art & Design, Drama and Sport Scholarships are available. There is also a Head’s Scholarship awarded to any girl or boy who has demonstrated outstanding all-round ability.
All school admissions are handled by our Admissions Manager. If you would like to register your child for entrance into our Senior School and arrange a visit or informal meeting with Mrs Amy Chapman, Head, please contact the Admissions team by phone: 01332 514267 or by email: admissions@derbyhigh.derby.sch.uk
To view our key dates for Year 7 entry in September 2027, please click the button below.
We would encourage you to apply in the Autumn Term but you can apply to join our Sixth Form at any time during your final year of GCSE. The expected minimum requirement for entry is 7 full GCSE passes at grade A*-B (or 9-6) including English and Maths at grade 5 or above. Any student who finds they do not quite meet the requirements will be considered on an individual basis.
Scholarship and Award applications can be made at any point during the academic year, but we recommend the Autumn Term. To view the key dates for Sixth Form entry September 2027, please click the button below.
Scholarships are available in all academic subjects. We also offer Awards in Sport, Music and Drama which would involve an audition and interview. Scholarships and Awards start at £500 discount on the full fee.
If you are considering joining Derby High School in the Sixth Form further details are available in the Sixth Form Options & Information Brochure.
Throughout the admissions process our Admissions Manager is available to answer any questions and help you through the application process.
For further information on admissions, to book a tour, or to attend our next open event (details on upcoming events are outlined below), please complete the online registration form at the top of this page.
Experience life at Derby High School, Derbyshire’s top performing independent school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 by visiting our school. Tours are conducted during a normal working school day so our guests can meet our staff and students during a typical day.
All tours must be pre booked and will be allocated a convenient time. For more information please contact our Admissions Manager on 01332 514267, or email admissions@derbyhigh.derby.sch.uk. Alternatively, please complete the online enquiry form at the top of this page.
Join us for our Senior and Sixth Form Open Morning and discover what life is like at Derby High School.
Students and staff will be available throughout the morning to answer your questions and share what makes a Derby High education unique.
Take a tour of our Senior School and Sixth Form, including our impressive facilities: the Design Technology suite, Art Room and Gallery, Music and Performance spaces, Sports Hall, outdoor courts and field, and our newly refurbished science laboratories.
We warmly invite you to stay, chat with our students and staff, and enjoy a light brunch in The Refectory.
For more information, or to let us know you are coming please contact our Admissions Team at 01332 514267 or emailing admissions@derbyhigh.derby.sch.uk
We look forward to welcoming you!
Spend the day in our Senior School and take part in our exciting CSI-style Forensic Science Workshop – a practical, hands-on experience designed to engage curious young minds.
If you are considering Derby High School for your child, this is a fantastic opportunity for them to experience life in our Senior School, explore our facilities and make new friends. Throughout the day, pupils will take part in an exciting programme of forensic activities, as well as enjoying morning break and lunch together in our Refectory.
It’s a great way for children to become familiar with their new surroundings and get a feel for life at Derby High School.
This event is open to all pupils currently in Year 6, from all schools.
Booking is essential for this popular event. For more information or to reserve your child’s place, please contact our Admissions Team on 01332 514267 or email admissions@derbyhigh.derby.sch.uk.
Join us for our Sixth Form Open Evening, where you will discover the breadth of opportunities available within our Sixth Form.
During the evening, you will have the chance to meet our students and staff, explore our purpose-built Sixth Form Centre, and gain valuable insight into our extensive A level curriculum.
All subjects will be represented, and there will be an opportunity to speak informally with our Heads of Department about the academic pathways and enrichment opportunities we offer.
The evening will start at 6pm with a short presentation.
For more information click here, or to let us know you are coming please contact our Admissions Team at 01332 514267 or emailing admissions@derbyhigh.derby.sch.uk
We look forward to welcoming you!
SENIOR SCHOOL
Suitability for an Academic Scholarship in Year 7 is assessed on the results of the Entrance Examination papers for external candidates and also from results of internal assessments in Year 6, for Derby High School pupils.
In previous years we have invited children to sit additional tests to be considered for an academic award, but we feel this puts excessive pressure on girls and boys who apply, while potentially missing deserving children who do not choose to apply.
Scholarships for Music, Sport, Drama and Art & Design are awarded each year in Year 7. For further details please contact our Admissions Manager.
Year 7 scholarships at Derby High School do not carry any financial concession, but offer many non-financial benefits through the bespoke Minerva Scholarship Programme. Our bespoke Minerva Scholarship Programme has been designed to challenge students to think beyond boundaries of their subjects, encouraging them to question and reflect, to shift and broaden their
academic and co-curricular horizons.
There are a range of Scholarships available to students joining our Sixth Form. Scholarship applications can be made at any point during the academic year, but we recommend the Autumn Term. Applicants will sit a subject specific paper in the chosen academic subject. We also offer scholarships in Art & Design, Sport, Music and Drama – which would involve an audition and interview.
The school also operates an Assisted Places scheme for qualifying families who would like their children to benefit from a Derby High School education but who would find it difficult to meet the full fee. No combination of Scholarship and Assisted Place would cover more than 50% of the total fees required.
For further information about the Scholarships available please contact our Admissions Manager on 01332 514267.
Academic Year 2026/27 (inclusive of VAT)
| Year Group | Term Fee | Annual Fee |
| PSU* | £3,114 | £9,342 |
| Reception | £4,630 | £13,890 |
| Years 1 & 2 | £4,785 | £14,355 |
| Junior Years 3-4 | £4,885 | £14,655 |
| Junior Years 5-6 | £5,090 | £15,270 |
| Senior Years 7-9 | £6,480 | £19,440 |
| Senior Years 10-11 | £6,740 | £20,220 |
| Senior Years 12 & 13 | £6,810 | £20,430 |
Funded places are available in our Pre-School Unit.
*For a full-time PSU Autumn/Spring/Summer term place net of Early Years Funding at current rates.
Details of the Early Years Funding Scheme are available by clicking here.
When three or more siblings attend the school, there is a reduction of 33⅓ % on the above tuition for the youngest child on net fees.
Assisted Places in the Senior School
The Senior School runs its own Assisted Places scheme, which offers financial assistance of up to 50% of school fees to qualifying families who would like their children to benefit from a Derby High School education but who would find it difficult to meet the full fee. Each student’s application is considered individually and all assisted places are subject to annual review.
If you would like to come in for a confidential meeting with our Director of Finance to discuss the funding of your child’s education, please do not hesitate to contact the Finance department on: 01332 514267.
Scholarships
Year 7 scholarships at Derby High School do not carry any financial concession, but offer many non-financial benefits through the bespoke Minerva Scholarship Programme.
Please click here for more information about the range of scholarships offered at Derby High.
Monthly Payment of School Fees
School cannot accept payments in instalments due to restrictions by the FCA who monitor our financial activity. For information and without prejudice, many of our parents have opted to use an independent company named School Fee Plan. Applications are made directly to them, well in advance of the due date of the termly bill and any financial information provided remains confidential.
Derby High School Trust is an introducer appointed representative of Premium Credit Limited which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. School Fee Plan is a trading style of Premium Credit Limited.
Credit is subject to status. Terms and Conditions apply. Over 18’s only.
If you would like further information, please click here or contact the bursary department directly if you require any further assistance.
Registration Fee – Payable with Application Form – (non-refundable)
PSU to Year 11 – £120 (Inc VAT from 1st Jan 2025)
Deposit – To secure a place once it has been offered and accepted:
Primary School – PSU to Year 6 – £250
Senior School – Year 7 to Year 13 – £750
The deposit is refundable at the end of the child’s school career, subject to any amounts owing being cleared in full. If a parent elects to leave the deposit to school it will be used to augment the bursaries fund.
In order to accept an offer of a place, parents must sign the Acceptance Form, which forms a contractual obligation. Parents subsequently withdrawing their child without giving a full term’s notice, will be liable for the first term’s fees.
Derby High School operates its own Fees in Advance Scheme for the payment of school fees for future years, the percentage of savings is dependent on the interest rates at the time of payment. For further information please contact the Finance department.
Further information regarding the scheme can be found here – Fees in Advance Scheme
