Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy
Abbot Road, Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston, DE7 4HXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy is a secondary school in Ilkeston for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 449 schools in Derbyshire. It ranks 1st of 3 secondary schools in Ilkeston. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 15 May 2019, report published 10 July 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 23 April 2025
Pupils are happy at Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy. They told inspectors that they are proud to be part of this school community. Pupils enjoy learning and value the positive relationships that they have with staff. Pupils are kept safe in the school and know who they can turn to if they are worried. Pupils are polite and respectful. Most of the time, everybody gets along. Classrooms are calm. Distractions to learning are rare. Around school, and during social times, pupils follow routines without fuss. The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. The curriculum is aspirational for all. It has been designed to provide pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to contribute to society. Pupils work hard and achieve well. Character development is a priority for the school. The school's 'CARED FOR' virtues inspire pupils to be active citizens. Through an array of leadership opportunities, pupils develop confidence and resilience. Memorable experiences, including a variety of trips and visits, enhance the curriculum and strengthen the sense of community in the school. Extra-curricular activities in sports, the arts and other pursuits help to develop pupils' wider talents and interests.
What the school should improve
- There is some variation in the delivery of the intended curriculum. At times, agreed pedagogical approaches are not followed as effectively as they could be. As a result, sometimes, pupils do not achieve as well as they could. The school should ensure that its planned strategies are implemented consistently and effectively across the curriculum.
- There is some inconsistency in the way that staff respond when pupils do not meet the school's high expectations for behaviour and conduct. This means that pupils are not always clear about what is expected of them, and some do not conduct themselves as well as they could. The school should make sure that staff apply routines consistently and deal with incidents of poor behaviour effectively.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
148 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
625 pupils on roll, with places for 606
Schools near Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirk Hallam Community Academy | 0.3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Attainment 8: 38.7 |
| Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 40.5 |
| Friesland School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.1 |
| Bramcote College | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 51.3 |
| Heanor Gate Spencer Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 49.6 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ST RALPH SHERWIN CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Steve Brogan
- Phone
- 01159322896
- Address
- Abbot Road, Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston, DE7 4HX
- Local authority
- Derbyshire
- URN
- 137908
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.