Dame Catherine Harpur's School
School summary
With just 37 pupils on its roll, Dame Catherine Harpur's School is among the smallest independent schools a family is likely to encounter. Mixed and fee-paying, it sits in Derby and is led by Ms Lorna Harvey. The intimate scale is the defining feature here: classes are tiny, and pupils are known as individuals rather than as faces in a crowd. Families drawn to a close-knit, family-style setting over the bustle of a larger institution will find much to consider.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- Last inspected
- 29 March 2023
Teaching & academics
As an independent school inspected by the ISI, the focus falls on small-group teaching where the size of the roll allows close attention to each child. More than a quarter of pupils receive SEN support, a notably high proportion that suggests the school is geared towards children who benefit from additional help and a tailored approach.
Head · Ms Lorna Harvey
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 27.03%
- EHC plans
- 2.7%
Schools nearby
Repton Prep
Milton, Derby, Derbyshire, East Midlands
St Wystan's School
Derby, East Midlands
Repton School
Derby, East Midlands
Lewis Charlton Learning Centre
Ashby de la Zouch, East Midlands
Castleview School
Ashby De La Zouch, East Midlands
Huntingdon House School
Ashby-De-La-Zouch, East Midlands
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A genuinely small, personal school where every pupil is known by name. Best suited to families seeking individual attention and a supportive environment, particularly where extra learning support matters.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Dame Catherine Harpur's School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.