Derby High School opened at Oxford Villas, a semi-detached house in Osmaston Road, in January 1892, later moving up the road to The Field. Prior to the start of the Second World War the school was forced to evacuate because of its vulnerable position close to Rolls-Royce and the Locomotive Works, both considered prime targets for German bombers. It moved to Mackworth House, now the Mackworth Hotel, a much smaller premises with no playing fields. Instead, children would play on a street and a teacher would keep watch for traffic. In 1940 the school returned to Osmaston Road but was damaged during an air raid on 19 August. In 1955 discussions were held about moving the school to the site – then known as Hilltop – that it currently occupies in Hillsway, Littleover. The building was purchased but lengthy renovations had to be carried out and was hampered by a fire at The Field that caused more than £4,000 worth of damage. The school entered more troubled times as its buildings at Osmaston Road were flooded after the 1957 East Midlands earthquake damaged some pipes. After much difficulty it finally moved to Hilltop where it has been ever since. Derby High celebrated its 120th anniversary in January 2012. A book, High Life, containing historical information and old photos was published to commemorate the occasion.
Academics
Students achieved an 100% pass rate in the 2018 GCSEs and A Levels
Curriculum
The primary department broadly follows the National Curriculum, assessment at Derby High Primary is not, however, via SATS tests. The senior curriculum is built around teaching for GCSE and A-level. In the senior school, all subjects are taught by specialist teachers. The senior school begins with Year 7, which has two forms of equal ability, each with a form tutor. Students are taught in forms for all subjects except Maths, for which there are sets. In Year 7, the traditional core subjects are taught: English, Maths, History, Geography, French, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Art, Music, Design Technology, Home Economics, Religious Studies, PE and ICT. In Year 8, German or Spanish becomes a second language. In Years 10, and 11, the sciences, humanities, PE, Art, DT, Home economics and Music are offered to GCSE. All students must take Maths and English and choose six other courses, including at least one language and one science. Years 12 and 13 are the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth, with most students taking three A-levels or maybe four.
