Previous to the opening of the school, there was the Eckington County Secondary School, which opened in Halfway (in Derbyshire before 1967) in 1930, and became the Eckington Grammar School in 1945. In Eckington was also the Eckington Secondary Modern School on School Street; when the grammar school became Derbyshire's first comprehensive school - the Westfield School - in 1957, this became Eckington Junior School. The current site started construction in 1978 and opened to students a few years later in 1983.
Admissions
The school catchment area includes surrounding areas such as Killamarsh, Renishaw, Beighton, Ridgeway and Mosborough. Despite the school being closer to several Sheffield residential areas (including Beighton and Mosborough) than other Derbyshire ones, the admissions policy is set in such a way to favour pupils coming from the Derbyshire feeder schools in areas such as Killamarsh, Ridgeway and Renishaw.[1] This is because most students from the Mosborough and Beighton area attend Westfield School.
Academic performance
Eckington Comprehensive was designated a specialistengineering college. This title was removed from the school. Students attain results that are well above average at GCSE for Derbyshire (94% 5 A* - C, 63% including English and Maths in 2012). The results at A level were better than average.
In June 2022, the school was given an "Inadequate" rating by Ofsted.[2]
Notable former pupils
Chris Pritchard 1999, Represented Scotland at 2010 Commonwealth Games Track Cycling
Mat Welsh, Sean Long, Aaran McKenzie and Adam Savage from the band While She Sleeps[3]